RURAL ELECTRIFICATION EXPANSION UNDER CDM

Abstract

Rural electrification is a key driver of economic growth and prosperity in rural areas. In un-electrified villages people are using kerosene for lighting and diesel operated pumps for irrigation purpose. The petrol based sources give carbon dioxide release in the environment which is hazardous for the environment. Clean renewable energy systems are right solutions specially for electrification of remote rural areas where the grid extension is difficult and not economical. Such systems incorporate single or a combination of several renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic, wind energy, small-hydro, and biomass. They sources may also be integrated with the grid in case expanded at later date. The renewable energy systems can be used to eliminate or reduce carbon dioxide emissions by replacing the use of kerosene and diesel which otherwise emit greenhouse gases with these systems. Due to technical and economical issues associated with extending the electricity services from the grid of the villages were left out unelectrified. The electrification of rural area is one of the priority area by governments globally. India by the year 2009 each & every village should be electrified and each household should be able to consume a minimum 1 kWh a day. Renewable energy sources that are available in those villages can be used for meeting power demands of such villages. Carbon credits are calculated by the amount of carbon emissions that would have been emitted if a diesel or other traditional polluting conventional sources were used to produce the same amount of energy. These benefits if available shall improve the financially viability of these renewable energy sources. Under United Nation Framework of Climate Change (UNFCC) such benefits can be obtained through Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).