Indian Case Study

In 1987, the village of Pura in the Karnataka state of India replaced their traditional means for obtaining water and electricity with a biogas-based Rural Energy and Water Supply Utility. The system was developed at the Indian Institute of Science and improved the living conditions of the 500 residents. The system was competitive with central station, coal-based power and the low demand for power enabled the village to sale excess electricity to the utility grid. The International Energy Initiative launched a proposal, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, in 1995 to replicate the success of the Pura system. Nine additional villages in Karnataka have replicated the system under the IEIs supervision.  A report on their success was prepared by the IEI.