NERD SOCIETY Programmes

We, NERD SOCIETY are proud to introduce ourselves as experienced and pioneers in manufacturing latest high rate Bio - Methanation reactors with The Netherlands Technology and also, the oldest NGO with 27 years of best service to the SHGs, Rural Developments in villages and Tribal Hamlets, in Coimbatore, the industrial hub of Tamil Nadu, India. NERD SOCIETY has been found in 1984 by its Founder President Smt. K.SATHYAJOTH KAMARAJ.

Conventional and Non-Conventional are the two classified electric power generating technology available in this universe. In Conventional Energy, Atomic, Thermal and Petroleum are known as old methods; Biogas (Gobar gas), Gasification, Solar, Wind and Ocean energy are the other types presently under Non-Conventional Energy sources. However, Conventional Energy sources are suitable for large scale generations (on MW scale) which are not within the reach of an individuals or small group. The present cost of Photovoltaic Solar Cells and variable in wind velocity from time to time and place to place are other reason for unable to reach in this segment.

NERT SOCIETY'S HIGH RATE BIOMENATION REACTOR

Our latest focus is on waste water treatment. One side the above said industries find it very difficult to dispose its waste water in an environmental friendly way. On the other side it is finding it difficult to pay the electricity charges of the company. In addition to that it is paying heavily for the treatment of waste water through conventional aerobic treatment plant. Instead if we go for Bio-Methanation route, we can get the triple benefit of Environmental friendly way of treatment and disposal of its waste water, additional power generation during the treatment itself and finally saving the cost of electricity incurred for the present aerobic treatment and disposal method. For achieving the above triple benefits, NERD SOCIETY has designed and developed a high rate Bio-Methanation Reactor based on The Netherlands Technology.

Non-Conventional Energy conversion methods especially in Biogas segment can be effectively used in panchayats, tribal settlements, hostel and mess oriented education institutions, community toilets, meat, chicken, fish, and buffalo slaughter house waste with water, meat, chicken, fish, and food process units, sago factories, vegetable market waste collections, industries, hosiery, garment factories, textile mills, canteen and hostel, apartments night soil tank, villas, individual houses, units, hospitals waste by insulators, and corporation waste collections. Being one of the leaders in ultra-model High rate Bio- Methanation Reactor manufacturing based on latest The Netherlands technology, we strongly believe that, our High rate Bio- Methanation reactors will address the present power scarcity reduce the global warming and increasing future requirement.

POWER GENERATION DURING WASTE WATER TREATMENT

Among the Non-conventional renewable energy sources, power generation from the wastes including waste water is very promising in the context of Energy and Environment. The technology and utilization of energy from waste through Bio-Methanation has recently attracted attention all over the world.

The rationale behind it is seen in the ecological benefits of the utilization of wastes, conservation of natural resources, pollution control, environmental sanitation and above all, exploitation of new resources of energy. In the developing countries application of Bio-Methanation acquires extra importance. The productivity of industries and farmlands in these countries, which is low owing to insufficient use of locally available resources, fertilizers and fuels, can be improved with cheap energy sources provided by Bio-Methanation.

The local resources are largely unused; local fuels and organic manures in the form of animal and vegetable wastes are partly wasted and are partly burnt in inefficient furnaces which capture little of the energy content and preserve almost none of the fertilizer value. Though Bio-Methanation technology, these wastes alone can provide power for industries, fuel for domestic use, energy for irrigation and other agricultural operations, organic manures for farms and lights and electricity in remote villages.

SALIENT FEATURE OF THE HIGH RATE BIO-METHANATION REACTOR

The waste water having the COD of about 1000 mg/l will be collected in the existing collection tank. It will be pumped to the High rate Bio-Methanation Reactor at the bottom. The reactor will be in a position to treat the waste material within one day retention period with a media provision inside the reactor. The effluents having about 200 to 250 mg/l (i.e. with 75% to 80% COD reduction efficiency) will be discharged from top of the reactor.

Usually in the conventional biogas plant, it will take 40 to 55 days for complete digestion of the fed material, which will make the process uneconomical. In the High rate Bio-Methanation reactor, it is proposed to digest the material within one day retention period so that the process will be more economical.

ELECRIFICATION OF THALINGI TRIBAL HAMLET WITH BIOGAS

There are about 80,000 villages in the country, which are still to be electrified. Of these, there are an estimated 18,000 villages in remote and difficult areas, which cannot be electrified by conventional grid extension. Most of these villages are in hills, forests, deserts and islands. Government of India has decided that all the remaining un-electrified villages in the country should be electrified in a time bound manner. The remote villages are to be electrified through decentralized generation system through non-conventional energy sources such as biogas, solar energy, biomass and small hydropower. The technology to be used will depend on the size of the village and the resources available locally. A prime example of demonstration of electrification through biogas technology by the NERD Society is the Thalingi Tribal Village as first of its kind in India. About 104 tribal families of Thalingi tribal settlement are able to enjoy the benefit of electricity through our intervention by the installation of biogas plants based power generating system.

ADVANTAGES HIGH RATE BIO-METHANATION REACTOR

  • Bio Gas can be used for alternate power generators.
  • Bio Gas easy to maintain and they are 100% safe.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactors are available with various sizes.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactor requires less area for its construction.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactor can be easily built by specially trained Engineers/Artisans.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactors are expected to function more than 15 to 20 years.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactor runs good when COD more than 1000mgs/l.
  • Bio Gas can be used to run duel fuel D.G. or independent Methane generator to generate electricity.
  • Bio gas produces considerable calories of energy like LPG when it burns.
  • Bio gas highly eco-friendly and functions freely against hot sun, heavy rain and calamities.
  • Bio-Methanation Reactor slurry is help to produce vermi compost without odour.
  • Bio-Methanation achieves considerable reduction in water consumption.

Biogas is an efficient cooking fuel. In comparison to the impending depletion of the natural sources such as fuel wood and the ever escalating prices of commercial fuels like LPG, Biogas is efficient user friendly and safe fuel. Biogas is free from smoke and soot. A cow and a calf can assuredly meet the cooking fuel needs of a small household. Biogas is definitely a boon to housewives and farmers in the rural areas of India.

Tribal Electrification with Biogas:

It is proposed to electrify the Thalingi Tribal Settlement and to meet the cooking demand through Biogas Generation; the Thalingi Settlement is located in Amaravathy forest division, Udumalpet taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu State. The Tribal hamlet is not yet electrified and there is no transport facility to that hamlet, which is situated in the interior forest at a distance of 6 kms from the main connecting road. There is no proposal to electrify the hamlet in the near future, because it is located in the interior forest area. The cooking demand is met through firewood by cutting the trees and collecting it. The lighting demand is met by the kerosene. A demonstration of electrification through biogas technology by the NERD Society is the Thalingi tribal village was carried out as first of tribal electrification project in India.

Biogas Programme:

Biogas is an efficient cooking fuel. In comparison to the impending depletion of the nature sources such as fuel, wood and the ever escalating prices of commercial fuels like LPG. Biogas is efficient user friendly and safe fuel. Biogas is free of smoke and soot. A cow and a calf can assuredly meet the cooking fuel needs of a small household. Biogas is definitely a boon to housewives in the rural areas of India.

The maintenance of Community toilets was the major concern so far. Now the Self Help Groups are maintaining the toilets in a clean and better environment. But the groups were facing the problem of paying the monthly electricity bill for the lighting and water pumping. Further they have to empty the septic tank since it is getting filled with night soil often. To overcome these problems, NERD Society has designed and promoted the night soil based biogas plant for treating the night soil through anaerobic digestion in an environmental friendly way.

Solar Cooker Programe:

Solar Cooker is an environmental friendly cooking device making use of natural solar energy.

Solar lantern program:

The society has promoted about 260 solar lanterns and opened 4 sales cum service centers as follow up mechanism.

Improved smokeless Chulha Program:

This is an improved cook stove, which consumes less fuel, but without smoke due to proper combustion. The program has installed for benefiting landless poor labourers.

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

It is concern of the society not only to improve the socio-economic status of the women, but also to make them attain empowerment leading to self-reliance in the long run. The SHGs arranged with the micro credit facility from the local banks are able to commence small business trades like pottery making, toys making, handloom saris, traditional medicinal products, masala powder making, pickle and food items making, paper cups making and jute products making.

Waste Management Program:

Disposal and treatment of solid waste is a major problem not only for big cities, but also for small towns. The burning of plastic waste creates environmental hazards to human beings. The present collection system is not efficient one. People have to be motivated for the segregation of waste at the source level itself; otherwise it is not economical to segregate waste in the dumping yard. Many towns have failed in the segregation of waste in the dumping yard.

In order to demonstrate the scientific way of waste collection, segregation, treatment and disposal, the nearby Vadavalli town has been selected by the NERD Society. Sixty poor women were selected in the Vadavalli town and they were formed as four Self Help Groups. They are being involved for the waste collection. The town panchayat authorities are paying the wages for the selected SHG members with the supply of pushcart for the collection of waste. The people are motivated for the segregation of waste at the source itself. It is planned to install vermi-composting units for the conversion of waste in to value added organic manure. By selling of manure by the unemployed youth, the system will become a sustainable one without any more financial requirement. The Toyota foundation is supporting this innovative solid waste management program.

Watershed Development Programme:

In recent years, there has been a growth of awareness among the community regarding the need to manage the natural resources hamlet land, water and vegetation on a rational basis. Simultaneously, understanding of related issues like equity, sustainability and people's initiatives in natural resource management have also grown considerably. NERD Society has identified Vadavalli Watershed Program in Annur Block of Coimbatore District and now 1750 hectares of land is under development with financial assistance of CAPART, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi.

Vermi-Composting:

In order to convert the domestic and agricultural waste materials in to a value added organic materials, a simple vermi-composting unit is designed and installed in houses, farms and educational institutions. The organic manure obtained through vermi-composting replaces the chemical fertilizer and also helpful for the sustainable organic farming.