VADODARA, July 6: The Gujarat Energy Development Agency's (GEDA) 500 KW biomass-driven power plant at Kothara in Abdasa taluka of Kutch district, which is the largest in Asia, was commissioned on July 3. Inaugurating operations, Industries Minister Suresh Mehta said that the State Government would support such research and development initiatives to make them commercially viable. He said that the decentralised power plant will provide both healthy and economic power as it's initial investment is much lower than conventional power plants.Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources Mulubhai Bera announced that the State Government would soon announce a policy required to support wind and other renewable energy commercialisation schemes.
GEDA chairman Marandbhai Arya said that this demonstration project will make a significant contribution to the development of the dry and desolate Kutch district.
Speaking on the occasion, GEDA director K V Doshi said that the gandobaval tree, which grows commonly in this region, will now be put to productive use and Kutch will be relieved of the thorny vegetation widely growing in this area.
The demonstration plant is equipped with a single 500 KW gasifier. Wood grown from fast growing species like Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia tortillis, Eucalyptus, Subabul and Casurina on 1,847 hectare of wasteland in the taluka under the Agency's energy plantation programme since last 10 years will fuel the plant.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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