Baba Ramdev and his associate Acharya Balkrishna of consumer goods company Patanjali are working on a unique form of renewable energy: Bull power.
Research of over one and a half years on the idea to generate electricity with the aid of a bull’s pulling power has yielded initial success. The aim is to ensure that the animals don’t get sent to slaughter.
The experiment is the brainchild of Balkrishna, managing director and primary stakeholder of Patanjali, and involves a leading Indian multinational automobile manufacturer and a Turkish partner. A prototype has been designed and is being tweaked to generate more electricity.
So far the design, involving a turbine, has managed to yield nearly 2.5 kilowatts of power, said those aware of the research project.
Balkrishna confirmed that Patanjali is conducting research on this at its sprawling Haridwar headquarters and added, "At a time when more and more male bovines are being slaughtered, we want to change the perception that they (bulls) are not very valuable. While in the morning they can be used in the farms, in the evening they can be utilised for generation of electricity."
He added, "We need to go back to the basics. In ancient times, bulls were used to ferry massive artillery. If their power is put to optimum use with the help of technology, they can be of tremendous use."
Balkrishna clarified the move is aimed at aiding the poor who cannot afford electricity and to save the male bovines.
He said, "We are undertaking research as to how more watts of power can be produced with the use of bulls so that a farmer can use them to light his household."
A senior executive has confirmed that the electricity, which will be produced by Patanjali won't be sold.
He said, "We are yet to achieve our desired goal(s) as far as production of large units of power is concerned. The idea is to produce a design which can be provided to farmers, who already have bulls, for generation of electricity."
He also added that the power thus generated can be easily stored. The population of bulls is on the decline, said another official, accounting for less than 30% of the cattle population.
The executive said, "If the trial turns out to be a grand success, it would ensure that bulls will be utilised than butchered."
