Introduction:

Village Energy Security Programme was launched by Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), New Delhi of Govt. of India in the year 2004-05. The programme is planned in such a manner that it should facilitate households of those remote villages / hamlets which still do not have excess to conventional energy sources and will not be electrified by conventional sources till 2012. It has immense social aspect in development of nation as it will provide total energy security (Electricity, Cooking, Motive Power etc) to the villagers to make them self-sufficient.

Under village energy security programme (VESP) the exercise of identification of those un-electrified villages which are not feasible to be connected through the grid are considered as ‘remote’ villages. A detailed survey of the remote villages is to be undertaken keeping in view the feasibility and viability of alternatives for biomass gasification / biofuel base power generation, improved chullha / biogas plants for cooking energy etc. In general villages between minimum 25 households and maximum 200 households can be considered as potential village under VESP. The main and the foremost objective of this programme is the concrete participation of villagers that to in-particular women’s participation by the formation of Village Energy Committee (VEC). The Programme envisages some contribution towards total project cost from respective state governments / beneficiary.

Central Govt. Policy:

Village Energy Security Programme (VESP) is the programme launched by Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), New Delhi keeping in view to make a particular census village or a hamlet of census village self sufficient from the point of view of Energy requirements using locally available renewable energy sources & full participation of local community.

Objective:

• Is to provide energy for cooking, electricity and motive power through various forms of locally available biomass materials with energy production & distribution to be managed by local communities.
• It envisage energy plan which includes assessment of total demand, resource availability and an appropriate technology mix to meet demand.

Selection:

The selection of village / hamlet is required to satisfy the following conditions:

• Should be non-electrified and will not be electrified by 2012 by conventional means.
• Should have house hold in the range of 25 to 200.
• Should have sufficient quantity of biomass / renewable energy sources.

Technology Option:

The programme involves either of the following technology to cater energy need:

• Biomass gasifier coupled with 100% gas engine / duel fuel engine run on bio-fuels.
• Stationary diesel engines run on straight vegetables oils or bio-diesel.
• Biogas plants using tree based organic substances, vegetable waste / residues, kitchen waste, etc.

Village Energy Committee:

• Should be formed through the Gram Sabha and notified by the Gram Panchyat.
• VEC will operate and maintain the system.

Implementation:

• Implementation can be undertaken by either DRDA / Forest Dept. / NGO.

Funding:

• 90% of Capital cost will be a CFA and will be released by MNES on stage wise basis.
• 10% will be a beneficiary share.
• All other O&M charges needs to taken care by VEC by collecting required monthly charges from beneficiary.

Success Stroires:

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