Each year, India produces about 400 million tonnes of biomass resources, of which a sizeable portion is burnt by SMiEs (small and micro enterprises) to generate heat. The traditional furnaces and ovens used by SMiEs operate at low efficiencies and also produce large amounts of emissions. Biomass gasifier technology offers great scope to use biomass resources more efficiently and reduce pollution. It can, therefore, provide secure energy services for developing countries that are rich in biomass resources.

In 1994/95, SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) entered into a partnership to find solutions to the energy and environmental problems of select SMiE sub-sectors through
technology upgradation and human and institutional development. They chose four sub-sectors for intervention: foundries, sericulture, glass industries, and brick manufacture.

This book narrates, in a brief and simple way, the process by which the partners developed clean, energy-efficient biomass gasifier systems for heat applications