In a move aimed at cutting fuel costs and reducing environmental impact, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has developed a technology that converts organic waste into kitchen fuel, offering an alternative to LPG.
The system, developed after nearly a decade of research, uses dry leaves, twigs and other organic waste generated on campus to produce energy. These materials are first converted into small pellets and then processed in a biomass gasifier, where they are transformed into gas and steam used for cooking.
The initiative has already been implemented in the campus staff canteen, where it has reduced LPG consumption by 30–40%. It has also lowered waste disposal costs and reduced the risk of gas-related incidents.
The project began in 2014 under the leadership of Sanjay Mahajani, along with researchers Sujit Deore and Prabodh Gadkari. Early challenges included technical issues and operational concerns, but these were gradually resolved. Later, Sandeep Kumar contributed to improving the system’s efficiency.
Spread across 550 acres with over 50,000 trees, the campus generates large amounts of organic waste daily. What was once a disposal challenge has now become a source of energy.
Officials estimate that the system can reduce carbon emissions by about 300 tonnes annually while saving nearly 90 tonnes of LPG. The institute now plans to extend the technology to hostel kitchens and larger facilities, with potential savings of up to Rs 50 lakh per year.The technology has been licensed to Inficen Energy Private Limited for wider use, and is being seen as a scalable model for institutions, industries and urban centres looking to reduce fuel costs and manage waste more effectively.
