In accordance with the long-term policy objectives of the government of India for rural electrification, an off grid woodfuel-based power plant for generation of grid quality electricity has been installed in a remote island of West Bengal. The present study focuses on technical performance of the largest biomass gasifier based power plant in India. Sustainability of such a power plant has been reviewed with respect to diesel replacement, fuelwood supply, cost of electricity generation and pollution load. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.