A rural energy system based on energy forest and wood gasifier

A decentralized electricity generation system using a 5 kW wood gasifier has been installed for electrification in a non-electrified village. All the 43 houses in the village are provided with two lighting points each in addition to eight street lights. An energy forest has been raised and an annual productivity of 6.4 tonnes per hectare has been recorded compared to an annual wood fuel requirement of 5.1 tonnes for the gasifier. A diesel substitution level of 73% has been achieved in the field. The use of electricity for lighting has saved 0.803 tonne of kerosene per year in the village. Economic analysis has been carried out for the wood-gas-based system. The study has demonstrated the technical feasibility of a decentralized electricity generation system based on renewable source of energy, which has been accepted by the village community