Energy and Gender Capacity Building Intervention at Technology and Policy Levels

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1 Energy and Gender Capacity Building Intervention at Technology and Policy Levels Sangeeta Kohli Department of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Delhi June 15-17, 2010

2 Traditionally : cooking - the women s job. Background Biomass fuel: collection of the fuel associated drudgery Traditional cookstoves : need for large quantities of fuel due to inefficient combustion serious health hazards due to exposure to the products of unclean combustion. Urban population even in developing countries : access to LPG. Rural India : LPG access limited Expanding the base of LPG a fossil fuel not the best option from the environmental perspective. Biomass : traditionally used renewable energy Need for better technology and commensurate policies

3 Role of Technology Thus the alternative : better cooking technologies based on biomass. Two promising technologies for the past several decades: Improved cookstoves Biogas technology In India, two national programmes to spread these technologies major initiatives in this direction : The National Programme on Improved Cookstoves (NPIC) ( ) The National Project for Biogas Development (NPBD) (1982) Several strides made at that time. Technology has come a long way now Need to make the right technology choices available to the user.

4 Improved Cookstoves The focus in yesteryears : Fuel saving and removal of pollutants from kitchen using chimney Today s focus internationally : women and children s health Technology development in recent times : much cleaner combustion and high efficiency Improved stoves so far : a mixed response from the women many reasons

5 Some new designs Envirofit Stoves (Colorado state Univ group) Wood Gas Stove (Tom Reed) Green Fire Tech stove Aprovecho group Oorja Pellet Stove BP / First Energy India Philips woodgas Stoves (Philips Research group) Rice husk gasifier stove Alex Belonio, Philippines TLUD stove Paul Anderson

6 Issues in Improved Cookstoves New products in the market High Cost Product Life not very high Stoves with fan : need for battery or electricity or costly thermoelectric generator Need for processed fuel (issue of supply and cost) Maintenance requirements and network Technology development Driven by supply, not demand Need for user participation in developmental process Lack of awareness about health issues vis-à-vis cookstoves Who decides to buy or not to buy the stove : the women or the men?

7 Technology Interventions Technology development to take care of Regional cooking needs Low maintenance requirements Quality assurance Cost reduction Assured fuel supply Linking with local employment generation Use of local materials, decentralised manufacturing and fuel processing Consortium approach to ensure the above Standards and Certification Testing protocols Performance standards (Star rating) Certification centres

8 Policy Interventions Support technology development with quality technical input Need for implementation strategy promoting self-sustained business approach in the long run Government a facilitator rather than owner of such programmes Promote Public-Private Partnership among all stakeholders Quality standards and certification mechanisms Entrepreneurship development, networking Support for market development Tax benefits Promoting financing schemes for purchase of cookstoves and fuel supply support for micro-financing Linking up with NREGA, housing, rural electrification etc. Linkages between various ministries Effective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation

9 Awareness Generation Need for widespread awareness campaigns among men and women to link health issues with cleaner cooking technologies cost benefit analysis: expenses on health Vs stoves to link health and productivity and hence income Possible modes for campaign Mass media Government channels such as schools and health and social services institutions Village demonstrations and Village Fairs (melas) Word-of-mouth advertising among village families

10 Using existing chains Networking and Delivery Small industries network Agricultural networks and retail chains Primary health centres Special incentives for pregnant women through prenatal care centres Empowering Self Help Groups to take lead in Microfinancing biomass processing and supply maintenance of cookstoves.

11 Biogas Technology Millions of family size plants installed during NPBD Major advantages of technology LPG like clean cooking fuel Dual usage of cattle dung (fuel + manure) Limitations for wider adoption High initial cost despite subsidy Space requirement & slurry handling difficulties Need for minimum two adult cattle High water requirement Lack of proper maintenance infrastructure

12 Recent developments Compact biogas plants Alternative feedstock Need for Technical Work for Biogas Technology (2) Increasing efficiency of cattle dung based plants Low cost, user-friendly, optimal plant designs Greater thrust for commercialisation and local entrepreneurship development Development of training & service infrastructure Involvement of women in awareness generation and training

13 Summary Need for technology interventions to provide technology options to the users for cleaner cooking solutions to take effective care of all the links in the technology chain with involvement of women technology development with participation of users and grass-roots workers: women Need for policy interventions to facilitate development of suitable technologies to enable effective sustainable dissemination of the technologies with monitoring and evaluation This will go a long way in empowerment of women and improving their quality of life

14 Thank You