India to promote biomass power projects

NEW DELHI, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- India says it is promoting biomass-based small power projects to meet power demand in rural areas without electricity.

"The government is encouraging promotion of biomass-based off-grid small power projects for meeting unmet demand of electricity in unelectrified villages in the county under various programs like village energy security program, remote village electrification program and biomass gasifier program," New and Renewable Energy Minister Vilas Muttemwar told Parliament Tuesday.

He said biomass-based systems were encouraged in areas where grid connectivity is neither feasible nor cost-effective.

"Under RVEP, support has been provided for electrification of 47 villages using biomass-gasifier systems in the country, including 10 villages in Orissa state," he said. "A total of 78 projects have been taken up under VESP for implementation in 11 states."