Cashew shell waste becomes marine biofuel: India-Denmark gasifier tested on commercial vessel

A new pilot in Maharashtra turns cashew shells into fuel, gas, and biochar using a gasifier developed at the Technical University of Denmark. The project, run by MASH Makes, aims to give agricultural waste a second life as an energy source rather than letting it rot or burn in the open. The biofuel was blended with conventional fuel and tested in auxiliary engines aboard a commercial vessel, marking a step toward lower-carbon shipping. The process also produces biochar, which can be returned to farmland to improve soil. This creates a loop from farm waste to ship fuel and back to agriculture. While the trial is small, it shows a practical path for using crop residues in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like marine transport. The next question is whether the economics scale beyond pilot stage.