Rockefeller Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and GP Energy on Monday announced an initiative to provide clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels by exploring possibilities of creating a sustainable private power generated grid.
The initiative called SPEED (smart power for environmentally sound economic development) will set up these decentralised mini power plants in various rural areas of the country will use a large variety of biomass like forest waste, agricultural residues and even Municipal Solid Wastes to generate electricity locally.
In addition to providing uninterrupted power to the cell towers, irrigation, market and home lighting, additional capacity will be earmarked for creation of small & micro industrial units like atta chakki, rice mill, saw mill, ice factory, mini cold storage etc at highly affordable rates.
The joint initiative is currently scouting locations across West Bengal.
The Rockefeller Foundation supports work on social, economic, health and environmental and operates both within the United States and around the world. Rockfellar will be the funding agency for the initiative.
GP Energy is a green energy company and came up with the technology of developing energy from biomass under the brand name of GP Gasification Plant.
abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in