Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) is a government agency established in 2001 in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The agency is responsible for promoting and developing renewable energy projects in the state, with a focus on biomass and waste, biofuels, small hydro, and solar energy.

Biomass and Waste Sector:

CREDA has been actively promoting the use of biomass and waste as a source of renewable energy in Chhattisgarh. The state has a large amount of agricultural waste, forest residues, and municipal solid waste, which can be converted into energy through various technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion.

CREDA has been working with various stakeholders such as farmers, industries, and municipalities to promote the use of biomass and waste for energy generation. The agency has set up several biomass-based power plants in the state, which use agricultural waste and forest residues as fuel. These power plants have a total installed capacity of 35 MW and generate around 200 million units of electricity annually.

CREDA has also been promoting the use of biogas technology for the treatment of organic waste. The agency has set up several biogas plants in the state, which use cow dung, poultry litter, and other organic waste as feedstock. These biogas plants generate biogas, which can be used for cooking, lighting, and electricity generation.

Biofuels Sector:

CREDA has been promoting the use of biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels in Chhattisgarh. The state has a large amount of non-edible oilseeds such as Jatropha, Karanja, and Mahua, which can be used to produce biodiesel. CREDA has been working with farmers to cultivate these oilseeds on a large scale and has set up several biodiesel plants in the state.

CREDA has also been promoting the use of ethanol as a biofuel in the state. The agency has set up several ethanol plants, which use sugarcane molasses as feedstock. These ethanol plants have a total installed capacity of 120 million liters per annum and produce around 100 million liters of ethanol annually.

Small Hydro Sector:

CREDA has been promoting the use of small hydro power plants in Chhattisgarh. The state has a large number of small rivers and streams, which can be used to generate electricity through small hydro power plants. CREDA has been working with private developers to set up small hydro power plants in the state.

CREDA has set up several small hydro power plants in the state, which have a total installed capacity of 35 MW. These power plants generate around 150 million units of electricity annually.

Solar Sector:

CREDA has been promoting the use of solar energy in Chhattisgarh. The state has a large amount of solar radiation, which can be harnessed through various technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, and concentrated solar power (CSP).

CREDA has set up several solar PV power plants in the state, which have a total installed capacity of 110 MW. These power plants generate around 180 million units of electricity annually.

CREDA has also been promoting the use of solar thermal technology for various applications such as water heating, drying, and cooking. The agency has set up several solar thermal plants in the state, which use parabolic troughs and dish collectors to generate heat.

Conclusion:

Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) has been playing a key role in promoting and developing renewable energy projects in Chhattisgarh. The agency has been working with various stakeholders such as farmers, industries, and municipalities to promote the use of biomass and waste, biofuels, small hydro, and solar energy.

CREDA has set up several renewable energy projects in the state, which have a total installed capacity of 300 MW and generate around 700 million units of electricity annually. These projects have not only helped in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels but have also created employment opportunities and improved the livelihoods of the local communities.

CREDA's efforts have been recognized nationally and internationally, and the agency has won several awards for its contribution to the renewable energy sector. With its continued efforts, CREDA is expected to play a key role in achieving the state's target of generating 10,000 MW of renewable energy by 2022.