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Renewable Energy Technology

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Access to sources of energy is still a major limiting factor to sustainable development in may part of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. Large areas are still not electrified, and where there is electricity it is often unreliable or prohibitively expensive. Fossil fuels are often not easily available or are too expensive for daily use. Mountain people have always relied on renewable energies like wood, animal dung, and draught power for survival – be they for cooking food, keeping the house warm, milling grain, ploughing fields, or transporting goods; bu the traditional energy sources are no longer sufficient to meet people’s needs, and there is increasing concern about the negative impacts associated with their use. Wood is becoming scare increasing the time spent in collection; deforestation is leading to land degradation and loss of groundwater recharge amongst others; and indoor pollution from wood and dung smoke is a major cause of respiratory and other health problems.

However, mountain areas have vast untapped source of potential energy in the form of running water and long hours of sunshine. Recent development in technologies for renewable energy, offer possibilities for using this energy on a small-scale at low cost to reduce household drudgery, provide electricity for domestic use, and support and sustain income-generating activities. Overall, the potential for sustainable use of renewable energy resources in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) exceeds by far the total energy consumption in the region.

The activities at the Knowledge Park at Godavari focus on the demonstration of simple low-cost renewable energy technologies that can be used by farmers to support agricultural, domestic, or small-scale income generating activities. Most of the demonstrations are provided in partnership with different local NGOs. We welcome other groups to use this site for demonstration of appropriate technologies that complement the ongoing demonstration and training activities.

 

11 Dec 2019 Community outreach
Community outreach – off-site demonstrations and training and provision of materials

From the very beginning, we have focused on developing a variety of approaches for sharing the knowledge and ...

11 Dec 2019 Vegetation management
Biofencing/Live fencing

Biofencing/Live Fencing Live fences are lines of trees or shrubs planted on farm or field boundaries that provide protection against cattle ...

11 Dec 2019 Water management
Irrigation with Treadle pump

Treadle pump  is a simple, cheap, and effective device for lifting water by alternate up and down movement of the ...

11 Dec 2019 Biodiversity
Biodiversity Conservation: Development of Swampy Wetland Area

Recently, ICIMOD embarked on a new project for biodiversity conservation and promotion: development of a useful ...

11 Dec 2019 Livestock and fish
Animal Husbandry – Goat husbandry, Angora rabbits, Pisciculture

Goat husbandry Goats are part of the farm household in mountain farming systems. Particularly for marginal farmers, they have ...

22 Apr 2020 Income generation
Yacon-Peruvian Ground Apple cultivation

Have you ever tried Yacon (ground apple)? We've been growing #Yacon at our Knowledge #Park in #Godavari since ...

11 Dec 2019 Soil management
Conservation farming

The basic principle of conservation tillage is to maintain a cover on the soil surface of residues (mulching) or vegetation ...

11 Dec 2019 Water management
Stone-Lined and Grass-Lined Waterways

Lining waterways is one way of reducing soil losses through seepage and preventing erosion of the waterway bed. Stone or ...