In Punjab, there is a project using paddy straw to produce compressed bio gas which is exemplary across India, and could transform the rural economy.
In Punjab, there is a project using paddy straw to produce compressed bio gas which is exemplary across India, and could transform the rural economy.
The renewable energy revolution rooted in agriculture is beginning in India with a private company’s first bio-energy plant in Punjab’s Sangrur district commencing commercial operations on October 18. Produce Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from paddy strawThus converting agricultural waste into wealth.
It has become common practice among farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh to burn paddy straw and biomass on fire to prepare fields for the next crop, which has to be sown in a window of three to four weeks. It is spread over millions of hectares. As a result, clouds of smoke engulf the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi and neighboring states for several weeks between October and December. It messes with the environment and affects the health of humans and animals.
some measures
The Indian government has taken many measures and spent a lot of money in tackling the problem. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas had developed a framework and action plan for effective prevention and control of stubble burning. The framework/ action plan includes in-situ management, i.e. induction of paddy straw and stubble in the soil using heavily subsidized machinery (supported by the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare). Ex-situ CRM efforts include use of paddy straw for biomass power projects and co-firing in thermal power plants, and feedstock for 2G ethanol plants, feed stock in CBG plants, fuel in industrial boilers, waste-to-energy (WTE) are included. ) in plants, and packaging materials, etc.
In addition, measures are being taken to ban stubble burning, its monitoring and enforcement and awareness generation initiatives. Despite all the efforts, the fire in the fields is not taking its name to stop.
Although burning of paddy straw in North West India has attracted much attention due to the severity of the pollution, the reality is that crop residue burning is spreading to Rabi crops and the rest of the country as well. Unless these practices are stopped, the problem takes on a dire form.
a project in place
In search of a practical solution, NITI Aayog in 2019 asked FAO India to explore the conversion of paddy straw and stubble into energy and identify potential ex-situ use of rice straw to complement the in-situ programme. contacted. In technical consultation with the public and private sectors, the FAO published its study on developing a crop residue supply chain in Punjab, which provides for the collection, storage and storage of rice straw for other productive services, particularly for the production of renewable energy. may allow end use.
The results show that to raise 30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab, an investment of about ₹2,201 crore ($309 million) would be required to collect, transport and store it within a period of 20 days. This reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 9.7 million tonnes of CO. will decrease 2 equivalent and about 66,000 tonnes of PM 2.5, Also, depending on market conditions, farmers can expect to earn between ₹550 and ₹1,500 per tonne of rice straw sold, depending on market conditions.
A techno-economic evaluation of energy technologies suggested that rice straw may be cost-effective for the production of CBG and pellets. The pellets can be used in thermal power plants as a substitute for coal and CBG as a transportation fuel. With 30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab, the 5% CBG production target set by the Government of India scheme, “Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)” could be met. It can also boost local entrepreneurship, increase farmers’ income and reduce open burning of rice straw. Sangrur, Ludhiana and Barnala in Punjab were recommended as the most promising districts for these interventions. Verbio India Pvt Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of German Verbio AG, received approval from the Punjab government in April 2018 to set up a Bio-CNG project that would utilize about 2.1 lakh tonnes out of a total of 18.32 million tonnes of paddy straw annually . , The plant is located in Bhutal Kalan village of Lehargaga tehsil in Sangrur district of Punjab. The plant will use one lakh tonnes of paddy straw produced from about 16,000 hectares of paddy fields. Paddy residue will be collected from this year to produce 33 tonnes of CBG and 600-650 tonnes of fermented organic manure/slurry per day – reducing 1.5 lakh tonnes of CO. 2 emissions per year.
many benefits
Thus, from paddy straw, CBG worth ₹46 per kg will be produced as per SATAT scheme. One acre of crop can yield energy output (CBG) of more than Rs 17,000 from paddy husk – an addition of over 30% to the staple production of cereals. This initiative is a perfect example of ‘Waste to Wealth’ approach and circular economy.
There are many other benefits: slurry or fermented organic manure from the plant (CBG) would be useful as manure to replenish soils severely deficient in organic matter and to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers. The plant will also provide employment opportunities to rural youth in the large value chain in paddy harvesting, collection, baling, transportation and handling of biomass and CBG plant. This will strengthen the economy of Punjab. It is pertinent to mention that the straw of many other crops has more energy than the straw of paddy.
It appears to be the first win-win initiative in terms of environmental benefits, renewable energy, value addition to the economy, farmers’ income and sustainability. This initiative is exemplary and scalable across the country and can be a game changer for the rural economy.
Ramesh Chand Member, NITI Aayog. Konda Reddy Chavva is the Assistant FAO Representative, India. Views expressed are personal