Opportunities, Challenges,

Strategies for RE potential in Tea

Sector in North Eastern part of
India
Presented By-
Shri Rupam Kumar Barthakur
Ankur Appliances
Guwahati, Assam, India.
Tel:09435040481
 About Us..
A recipient of National Award as a small scale entrepreneur and
North East Excellency Award from DoNER Ministry and Indian
Chamber of Commerce Mumbai.
Business Associate of I.O.C. Ltd for North East Region.
Proprietor of a small scale industry under the name Ankur
Appliances based in Guwahati manufacturing Solar
Equipments/Kitchen Appliances/Gas pipeline installation in the
North East.
First in the country to introduce successfully Eco Friendly,
pollution free quality enhancement projects with L.P.G in Tea
Gardens of North East & till now completed 17 Nos. of such
project in various Tea Gardens of Assam.
Have obtained a Patent on developing a L.P.G. based system for
tea garden to wither green leaves.
A channel partner of MNRE Approved Solar Equipments
manufacturer and presently executing 50KW Solar Power Plant in
North East.
 NATIONAL AWARD 2005

National Award as a Small Scale Entrepreneur

presented to Sri Rupam Kr. Barthakur in Ashoka
Hall, New Delhi, on 28.10.05 by his Excellency the
president of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in Tea Sector in North
Eastern part of India

Tea Productions in India:

Location wise
Quantity
North East Contributions
Location Wise Tea Productions
 Location Wise Tea Productions

North East India (Assam)

West Bengal ( Darjeeling Area)
Himachal Pradesh
Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri Hills)
Kerala ( Munnar & Wayanad)
 Quantity of Tea Produced in 2011
Indias total tea output was 988.32 million kg in
this period.
Assam produced around 509 million kg tea.
This contribution was more than 50% of the
countrys total tea production.
The third time that the State has crossed the 500
million kg mark in terms of tea production.
Around 25% of Indias total Tea output comes
from Darjeeling.
Rest 25% from the other States.
Quantity of Tea Produced in 2011
Month Wise production in Tonnes

Above shows maximum production happens in MAY-SEPT. in a Year

but during that period the State faces the Monsoons.
The North East contributions
NO OF REGISTERED TEA
Sl. No. STATE
ESTATES.

1. ASSAM
848 NOS

2. 05 NOS
ARUNACHAL PRADESH

3. TRIPURA 58 NOS

4. MANIPUR 02 NOS

5. NAGALAND 01 NO

MEGHALAYA 03 NOS
6.

7.
MIZORAM NIL

TOTAL 917 (APPROX.)

 The North East contributions
Tea is prominent agricultural based industry in Assam,
where there is a huge potential of renewable energy.
Huge potential but seasonal and needs effort for changing
over .
In addition to the 917 registered gardens there are around
10,000 small tea growers in the North East.
The fuels generally used by the Gardens are:
Coal ( manufacturing cost being the cheapest)
Natural Gas
LPG
Furnace Oil ( manufacturing cost being the highest)
The fuel is used to generate hot air for drying and withering
of tea leaves to reduce the moisture content of the leaves in
a tea factory.
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector

Opportunities:
Solar Energy & Bio-mass gasifier can play a major
role for processing of tea in:
Withering, Thermal process ( Pre heating of air)
Drying, Thermal process( Pre heating of air )
Solar photovoltaic (Factory lighting/ Home
Lighting)
Hot Water Systems (Bunglows & Quarters )
Tea Production Process
Withering Process of Tea
 Withering Process of Tea

Hot air
generation
with LPG
which can
be replaced
by Solar
partially or
totally
Drying Process of Tea
 Drying Process of Tea
Hot air
generatio
n with
LPG which
can be
replaced
by Solar
and Bio-
mass
Gasifier
partially
or totally
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector
Challenges:
Low Awareness of the Concept
Lack of adequate Technology
Finance (Subsidy) problems faced by the
gardens to start the projects
low Annual DNI ( Direct Normal
Irradiance)in the area
Frequent changes of weather conditions
 Low Awareness

lack of advertisement on uses of R.E. in tea

Slow decision making because of new

concept.

Limited proximity to resources/ concept

 Technological availability

Scarcity of technology as factories are

operating for 24hrs. during peak season.
Storage of energy to generate hot air during
night operation is required.
Operation during diffused sunlight or rainy
seasons/ providing constant temperature to
the heater is not available at present.
 Finance
Non Financing of projects by various
organisations and high project cost
Lack of adequate subsidies from the
government to popularise the projects in tea
gardens
 Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector
STRATEGIES

1. TO MAKE AVILABLE OF THE TECHNOLOGY AS PER THE REQUIREMENT

OF GARDENS
2. TO INSTALL ONE PILOT PROJECT TO POPULARISE THE CONCEPT
3. TO REQUEST GOVT.TO INCREASE THE SUBSIDIES FROM 30% TO 90%
CONSIDERING THE CARBON EMISSIONS AND GLOBAL WARMING.
4. TO ARRANGE FINANCIAL SUPPORTS TO THE GARDENS FROM BANKS
AT LOW INTEREST RATES .
5. TO WORK OUT MODALITIES FOR OPERATION OF A FEW PROJECTS ON
B.O.T. BASIS.
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector

INSTALLATION OF BIO MASS GASIFIERS.

IN TEA SECTORS
BIOMASS GASIFIERS IN TEA

Biomass gasifier installed

in tea garden
BIOMASS GASIFIERS IN TEA

Biogas used to produce electricity

in tea garden
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector

Opportunities: HUGE.
For Thermal and electrical applications
For cooking ( Kitchens/canteens)
Heating application( can generate high temperature)

Challenges:
Region having high humidity, Moisture % ( below 15% requirement)
Availability of adequate feed stock
Awareness/trained man power
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector
Strategies:
To popularise the concept with installation
Biomass Gasifiers installed in N.E. and operating: 4 Nos.
o India Carbon, Guwahati( 25Kw/to generate electricity)
o Bhagawati Sai Metal Alloy, Guwahati( Thermal ,alluminium,950 degree)
o Tea Garden in Nagaland ( withering /20Kw capacity( 30 to 40 degree)
o Dhola ,Assam
Technological up gradations
Pilot project to run successfully for one year minimum
Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies
for RE potential in the Tea Sector

THANK YOU
(FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE MY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE)