Alternative energy resources development project

Midterm evaluation covered the period 1982-86 and was based on document review, site visits, and interviews with USAID/I and Department of Nonconventional Energy Sources staff. The project, which was originally scheduled to end in mid-1986, was extended to 6/88. Although much has been accomplished, the improved energy technologies so critical to Indian development will be difficult to achieve within most subproject (SP) time frames and will require serious attention to market conditions and constraints. In the coal conversion component, the fluidized bed combustion SP is nearing commercialization, and R&D on methods to improve combustion and to remove particles from a product gas stream are progressing rapidly. The other SP"s in this component - which deal with longer-range technologies (e.g., dense media cyclones, coal water mixtures, and cold gas clean-up) - might be considered under a technology development program as research or as incubators for new ideas. In the biomass conversion component, the small gasifier and engine development SP"s have reached their technical objectives and are nearing commercialization, but require additional system analysis to define promising applications. The biomass production SP began only recently. Under information exchange, the energy modelling SP has developed a useful tool for energy policy analysis; the model will be used to evaluate the economic implications of industrial use of nonconventional energy. The low head hydro SP is lagging and requires immediate action, but the thin film solar materials SP is progressing well and the 100 KW gasifier demonstration has good potential for evaluating the feasibility of gasification as a source of captive energy for regional industry. The energy efficiency SP was well run and helped establish contacts between U.S. and Indian public and private sector representatives, but did not address the problem of identifying practical approaches to energy conservation. It is recommended that A.I.D.: (1) maintain close contact with the fluidized bed combustion SP and continue to support the coal-water and cold gas clean-up SP"s; (2) end support for the small gasifier, thin film collector, energy modelling, and energy efficiency SP"s; (3) collect complete operational data for and encourage greater involvement of the U.S. manufacturer in the 100 KW gasifier SP, and implement energy conservation measures in the industry considered for this SP; (4) consider a 15-month, no-cost extension for the low-head hydro SP; and (5) add an SP to explore practical approaches to industrial energy conservation. A key action decision is to extend the PACD to 12/31/89.