Cow power: Indian coal state seeks greener energy from manure

RAIPUR — One of India’s largest coal mining centers, also home to dense forests and a large indigenous population, will soon start using heaps of cow dung to power rural industries and homes, in line with global efforts to phase out fossil fuels.

Bhupesh Baghel, the chief minister of the eastern state of Chhattisgarh, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the government plans to teach local women to produce and sell clean energy as the mineral-rich state appears to be moving away from coal.

“Globally there is a shift to green energy,” said Mr Baghel, adding that coal remains essential to meet his state’s energy needs, but the goal is to find alternative sources.

“In deciding to slowly move away (from coal), we kept in mind the future of our people, especially the indigenous people. We want to create a framework to protect them, our forests and biodiversity,” he said in an interview.

India is the world’s second largest importer, consumer and producer of coal and has the fourth largest reserves, much of it in Chhattisgarh.

At last year’s COP26 climate summit, India announced plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and increase the share of renewables in its energy mix from about 38% last year to 50% by 2030.

Accordingly, and in order to improve the lives of the more than 40% of Chhattisgarh residents living below the poverty line, Mr Baghel’s government has introduced a circular economy plan in 2020.

It aims to create more jobs, increase incomes and create a sustainable rural economy by establishing industrial parks and helping women’s groups produce and sell natural products. Energy from cow manure was added last month.

According to the flagship program of Mr. Baghel villagers are paid 2 rupees ($0.03) for every kilogram of manure they collect, which is then processed into products such as organic compost, fire fuel and spice colors used at local festivals.

“It’s about a lot of things – from reducing stray cattle on the streets to livelihoods and going green,” Mr Baghel said during a break in proceedings at the Legislative Assembly in Raipur, the state capital.

“We’ve set up 8,000 gouthans (community spaces) in villages, where cow dung is collected and processed into products — and the next one will generate power.”

DOOR STEP POWER

As India pushes to expand coal mining to meet its energy needs, at least until 2024, Mr Baghel – who took office at the end of 2018 – has resisted pressure to open new mines in the Hasdeo Arand region, a of the largest intact forests in Central India.

He admits the dependence on coal won’t end overnight, but the 61-year-old feels the need for a master plan for the future.

The state has signed an agreement with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center to install 500 biogas plants in the gouthan spaces, each producing enough power to light more than 2,500 homes a day.

Depending on the amount of cow dung collected, the plants will be permanent or small mobile units.

“We will literally generate (power) at their doorstep,” said Mr Baghel.

While the state awaits approval for proposed solar energy projects, Mr Baghel said energy from cow dung would be produced 24 hours a day, training women to run and maintain the digesters that make biogas from the animal waste.

The gas will be used for cooking and also to produce electricity, which will be distributed to the local environment via a micro-grid.

The power will be supplied to rural industries and households and used for street lighting, feeding any surplus into the state’s electrical grid.

By decentralizing power generation and distribution, everyone will have easy access, including indigenous people who normally struggle to get electricity, while simultaneously creating green jobs and improving lives, Mr Baghel added.

“Cash from cow dung is the goal,” he said.

Based on Hindu sacred scriptures and his childhood memories of growing up in a village, Mr Baghel said “self-reliance” and “giving back to nature” were central to his plan.

GV Ramanjaneyulu, executive director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, said the approach would both increase access to energy for all and tackle agricultural waste.

“Decentralized energy is always a good idea,” he said, adding that using manure as a resource is “both practical and profitable.”

In line with the Indian government’s initial plan for a fair shift of coal in areas where mines are closed, the Baghel government also wants to help workers acquire new skills so they can run ecotourism or fish farms.

“We show people how profitable alternative jobs can be. We give them incentives and they adapt. Changes will follow,” said Mr. baghel. † Anuradha Nagaraj Foundation/Thomson Reuters