Textile Industry to become Green, Efficient and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals.

Energy Conservation is the Need of the Hour

In the age of Urbanisation and Industrialisation, the consumption of energy per capita is ever increasing. This changing life style is adding burden on the energy production units and eventually causing more pollution and stress on natural resources of the planet. Electricity is a problem in developing countries. Given the rate of India's growth, the electricity problem can be solved with innovations and the drive towards 'Sustainability' in every citizen's lifestyle. 1 KW electricity generated amounts to 1 Kg of carbon dioxide, 6 gm of Sulphur Dioxide and this leads to global warming, acid rains, carcinogenic emissions, etc. Approximately 20 lakhs shuttle looms are still working in India. The movement of Energy sustainability is the need of the hour to take every possible step in energy conservation. Every industry sector is making efforts for saving energy by technology adoption. One such power intensive industry is the textile industry. The textile industry is majorly finds application of Shuttle Looms which consume a lot of energy and thus adds to the production cost.

How Innovation helps save electricity and empower lives

BharatRapier is company which has successfully found out an innovative way to convert Shuttle Looms to Rapier Looms. This innovation will touch millions of lives in India and Asia. Bharat Rapiers have engineered an in-situ method for this conversion. This saves the capital expenditure for weavers. There have been successful trials in Maharashtra, UP, WS and Telangana states in India. This upgradation costs upto 1 lakh rupees. This Made-in-India technology not only saves costs and brings efficiency, but also, empowers women by making the machine user friendly and simple to process. Now with this 0 maintenance machine, more and more women can be included after vocational training.

Benefits of the Rapier Loom

20% saving of energy which amounts to 1MWH/Power loom/year or INR 50,000/Power loom/year. Reduction in GHG (Green House Gas ) reduction: amounting to 3 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide,16Kg of NOx and 8Kg /Loom/yr

Other advantages:

i) Increased production by 30%

ii) Better Quality

iii) Saving of Natural resources like Wood etc

iv) Less fatigue to operator, Lower Noise & Vibration

v) Women can operate the machine, hence empowering the women

vi) This will improve the economic status of Weavers and prevent Poverty driven suicides

Success Story

This incredible innovation is awarded gold medal by DST(Department of Science and Technology) -Lockheed Martin - India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP-2014). The Innovation is accepted by Ministry of Textiles for In-situ upgradation of Shuttle looms. Central Government is giving 50% subsidy. Textile Commissioner is working towards State Government giving rest of 50% subsidy. Telangana Govt is giving rest 50% subsidy.

Environmental Impact

With all the 20 lakh shuttle looms upgraded, 2,000 GWH of Electrical Energy & 5.4 Million Tons of CO2 will be saved. This is an initiative towards containing Global warming within 2 degree Celsius. Such innovations are necessary for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The government, industry and civil society must come together and promote such innovations. Achieving the SDGs is a collective effort and requires persistence.

By,

Ameya Paratkar

Technology Lead, TERRE Policy Centre