Industrial Carbon Credit in Un-organized Sector
- VSBK Technology for a Giant Move

Shalini Prakash                   shalini@sdalt.ernet.in

The Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) is an energy efficient technology for

VSBK Clusters in India

 fired clay brick production; the technology was originally developed in China. (Refer to http//:www.vsbkindia.org for more details on the technology) The technology was introduced into India in 1997 in an action research mode, with financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and technical assistance from China. With subsequent modifications and technological up gradations to suit Indian conditions, the VSBK technology has established itself in India and now from last few years TARA Nirman Kendra, the affiliate business company of Development Alternatives, is widely disseminating it in the various regions in India with the overarching objective to maximize environmental benefits and CO2 savings in the brick sector in India.
 

Industrial Carbon Credit Incurred from Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

The energy usage for the construction sector in India is a major factor contributing to the CO2 emissions. About 80% of the energy input from building material production is on account of cement, steel and bricks. Brick sector claims up to 17% of the total construction sector CO2 emission other than cement, lime. Through the Clean Development Mechanism as outlined in the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC, projects that contribute to the reduction, avoidance or sequestration of emissions reductions stand to earn from the carbon (or greenhouse gas) offsets generated by the operation of their project activities.

Further, if such a project is a small-scale project, then there are added advantages in its approval, monitoring, verification and certification.

A "VSBK cluster of 70 kilns in four regions" ( regions have been hatched in the map) is capable of generating carbon offsets of approximately 25,000 tonnes of CO2 annually according to an estimation done by Climate Change Centre, Development Alternatives.

This VSBK cluster of 70 kilns can claim carbon credit of around 1.2 million INR per annum at a minimum rate of 4 $ per tonnes of CO2. These added benefits also would interest the new generation entrepreneurs, desirous of investing in the VSBK technology. There are efforts going on to sell these offsets generated by the VSBK cluster of 70 kilns. The efforts are to raise upfront capital investments for new entrepreneurs who would like to invest in the VSBK technology and operate the business to conform to environmental performance guidelines. These guidelines will be issued as draft national standards for VSBK by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

This initiative is promoted by the technology provider TARA Nirman Kendra jointly with CDM project development facilitator Climate Change Centre, Development Alternatives. q    

TARAkendra Design Manual

Ashish Bahal     ashish@sdalt.ernet.in

TARAhaat has a vision to bring the world of relevant information, education, vocational programmes and markets right at the doorstep of every Indian town and village. This unique venture of Development Alternatives and TARA has been progressing leaps and bounds in the last couple of months. Its TARAkendras (franchised business-cum-community centres) have been multiplying in rural areas thanks to some assertive marketing initiatives and strategies by its team. There are around six TARAkendras functional in Bundelkhand in Central India and as many in Bathinda district. Over the next decades, TARAhaat plans to expand its services to all the states and districts of the country. Therefore at this threshold, it was decided to render TARAkendras a brand identity as a step ahead towards its long term goal.

In order to attain a brand name, after brainstorming, DA was commissioned to prepare a design manual for a typical TARAkendra along with reference to relevant vendors who would provide the designed items at reasonable rates. In view of other brands like McDonalds etc and their standard looks the interior layout, the furniture, the lighting etc. are being decided and fed into the manual with a strict eye to budget. The larger goal is to enable the franchisee to design with the help of the manual and to have a standard look and feel to all the TARAkendras. A typical TK has been designed as a warm place where the students, instructors and customers can interact freely among themselves and with computers.

TARAhaat also plans to provide service of designing the TARAkendras for the franchisee at a reasonable service charge. This exclusive service shall be enabled by a detailed brief provided by the franchisee along with specific details of the premises and TARAhaat would provide them detail layouts and other relevant suggestions. TARAhaat intends it as a long term service to facilitate the franchisee and maintain quality of its kendras. This service also marks the establishment of transition of ‘client – consultant meeting’ concept to ‘e-mail exchange meeting’ style of work, which is a revolution in itself. q

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