Agenda 21 recommends establishing national institutional mechanisms for rural energy planning and management that would improve efficiency in agricultural productivity and reach the village and household level.
The initial IRPPs of DESI Power shall generate electricity by gasification of non-forestry biomass using a highly efficient and reliable technology developed by the Indian Institute of Science. Agro-residues and other plant material are converted into combustible "producer gas" which can be fed into ordinary diesel generators, substituting about 80 to 90% of the fossil fuel normally used. In due course, DESI Power will also introduce solar, wind, minihydro, steam and other technologies amenable to small scale, decentralised power production.
The promoters have already established one power plant of 100 kW rating which is in regular operation since 31st March 1996. Located in the historical pilgrimage town of Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, the plant supplies power to a hand-made paper factory and other consumers in the neighbourhood.