May 6, 2021
The NDDB will examine current business models and operations to monitor renewable energy infusion.
EESL will identify and design appropriate technological solutions to be included in the supply chain.
The dairy sub-sector relies on elecricity to run end-to-end operations including refrigeration and effluent treatment.
Soft starters, sustainable lighting, capacitor use and Variable Frequency Drives have been posited as green energy solutions.
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) have formed a partnership to revamp energy efficiency in the cooperative dairy sub-sector. With regard to the division of responsibilities, the NDDB will work towards refining existing business development and operations models to infuse sustainable energy into all aspects of the supply chain. The Board will also look to create a monitoring and evaluation framework so as to ascertain the extent of progress made on targets. The EESL, on the other hand, will identify and fund the appropriate technologies to enhance the renewable energy generation and absorption capacities of the sub-sector. Varsha Joshi, Chairperson at the National Dairy Development Board observed that the partnership will look to enable the sub-sector to address its requirement for hot water and electricity steam from the operational point of view. Economical technological solutions are to be employed in order to being down the cooperative dairy landscape’s significant operational costs.
Amit Vyas outlines that cooperative dairies currently exhibit a pattern of reliance on electricity for all power requirements. He recommends six key areas in which conservation efforts can be introduced, including supply chain processes such as: (i) water supply and distribution, (ii) Air compressors, (iii) effluent treatment processes, (iv) boilers, (v) electical entities and (vi) refrigeration. Solutions with the aim of reducing repair and maintenance of heavy-duty machinery include the incorporation of soft starters and Variable Frequency Drives (VFD). Upgrading current motors, and machinery to more energy-efficient alternatives as well as incorporating capacitors into the functioning of motors are expected to cut down the sub-sector’s heavy electricity consumption. Experts also opine that utilizing more sustainable lighting within the plants can also catalyse renewable energy adoption.
Renewable energy has emerged as a key policy priority in international as well as national circles. The cooperative dairy space which is synonymous with the white revolution can push the nation towards achieving its renewable energy targets through strategic partnerships like NDDB-EESL.