Mumbai: In a significant step toward expanding India’s bioenergy sector, a new biomass conversion project has been launched in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district to transform agricultural residues into clean energy and biochar while creating additional revenue opportunities for farmers.
The project, developed through a partnership between Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. and Ankur Scientific, is designed to convert a wide range of biomass feedstocks, including mango seeds, corncobs, cotton stalks, bamboo, wood chips and other agricultural residues, into renewable energy products. The initiative aims to strengthen the circular bioeconomy by converting farm waste into valuable resources rather than allowing it to be discarded or burned, Deccan Herald reported
Using thermochemical gasification technology, the facility converts biomass into syngas, a renewable fuel that can be used in industrial thermal applications. The process also produces biochar, a carbon-rich material with applications in soil improvement, fertilizer production and various industrial sectors.
With the capacity to process nearly 50 tonnes of biomass per day, the project is expected to generate around 90 MWh of thermal energy daily in the form of syngas while producing approximately 12 tonnes of biochar.
Project developers say the initiative will create a new value chain for farmers by providing a market for agricultural residues that often have limited economic value. The project is also expected to support sustainable farming practices, reduce open-field burning of biomass and contribute to environmental conservation through improved resource utilization.
The syngas produced at the facility will be used for steam generation in food-processing operations, while the biochar is proposed as a sustainable alternative to peat moss in banana sapling cultivation.
Commenting on the development, Ankur Scientific Managing Director Ankur Jain said agricultural residues should be viewed as valuable resources capable of generating clean energy, improving soil health and creating new income streams for farmers.
As India increases its focus on renewable energy, biomass utilization and sustainable agriculture, projects that convert agricultural waste into bioenergy and value-added products are expected to play an increasingly important role in the country’s energy transition and rural economic development.
