Converting Crop Residue to Biomass Energy in India

thehansindia.com

by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

India generates nearly 500 million tonnes of crop residue annually, with 100 million tonnes typically burned, releasing significant greenhouse gases and pollutants. This practice destroys soil fertility and worsens air quality, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Telugu states. To combat this, India is implementing the SAMARTH scheme to integrate biomass pellets into thermal power plants. By shifting from burning to selling residue for bio-CNG, ethanol, and power, the country aims to create a circular economy that supports farmer income and reduces carbon emissions.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Good summary of the scale of the problem. The shift from burning to selling is the only way this works, but the logistics of moving millions of tonnes of straw are usually where these projects fail.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. The SAMARTH scheme looks good on paper, but without a standardized procurement price and clear contracts, farmers will keep burning because it is free and fast.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Replacing coal with biomass pellets in thermal plants is a decent bridge, but I want to see the actual energy density and combustion efficiency numbers. Does it actually lower the carbon intensity of the grid or just shift the emissions source?

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The soil health part is the real win here. Losing nitrogen and phosphorus to smoke is a waste of resources that farmers eventually pay for anyway via chemical fertilizers.