Study tour on co-generation technology in sugar and rice husk mills

Co-generation technologies help producers to save energy. Experts from the rice and sugar industry and representatives of governmental institutions in Bangladesh and Nepal learned about the opportunities during a study trip to India, organized and implemented by adelphi.

Indian producers of rice and sugar have already vast experience with the application of this energy efficient technology. The study trip aimed at sharing this knowledge with representatives of ministries, industry associations and experts from the sugar and rice industry in Bangladesh and Nepal. The event had been commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and formed part of the "Regional Energy Efficiency Project" (REEP). Nepal and Bangladesh experience a growing demand for energy while at the same time many industrial plants lack connection to the national grid. Against this backdrop, it is expected to contribute to spread this technology in the three South Asian countries.

In order to identify common features and to ensure a knowledge transfer suited to the needs of Bangladesh and Nepal, the study tour was kicked-off by representatives of the two delegations reporting about the current situation of the application of co-generation technology in their countries. Indian representatives from relevant legislative institutions concerned with the energy sector as well as experts and vendors of co-generation technology presented existing incentive mechanisms, energy savings and challenges regarding the implementation of co-generation technology in India. Apart from this technical input and exchange, participants had the opportunity to visit selected rice and sugar mills as well as a manufacturer of turbines. Thus, the participants could exchange ideas and build networks with several representatives of relevant industries in India and the South Asian region. As a wrap-up, the participants formulated action plans to disseminate the knowledge gained throughout the study tour in their home countries.