Utilization of Biomass in Rural Areas

Biomass is defined as carbonaceous matter that can be used to meet both primary and secondary energy requirements. Biomass is utilized for generating heat and to drive engines since ages. But this outmoded method of burning wood, organic residue etc is not environmentally beneficial as it releases smoke as well as volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. Newer technologies have been introduced for converting biomass into electricity thus emphasizing on ‘Carbon Neutral’ characteristic of biomass. About 70% of India’s population depends on biomass for its existence. The potential for power generation from biomass is 48,000 MW.

Biomass is majorly classified into three forms namely – Energy crops, Natural Vegetative Growth and Organic Waste and Residue. Biomass includes coconut shells, groundnut shells, coffee waste, jute waste, bagasse, municipal solid waste, municipal liquid waste etc.

The government of India has realized the potential of biomass in Indian context and has started numerous programmes to foster biomass conversion technologies to be used in various sectors. Government is also instrumental in setting up biomass power and co-generation projects. Till date, a total of 500 such projects have been implemented. Government of India along with private partnerships is also providing central financial assistance, fiscal incentives and subsidies. India has over 5940 MW biomass based power plants out of which 4946 is grid connected and the rest is Off-grid.  Biomass power and co-generation programme is implemented by the government for optimum utilization of biomass for power generation. The states leading in setting up of biomass based power plants are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu etc. Still, there exist some areas that have to be pondered upon for faster realization of biomass conversion technologies like absence of organized formal biomass markets, inefficiencies in handling and managing the biomass, insufficient information on different types of biomass.

Biomass availability is head and shoulders above in rural areas as compared to urban areas. There is seasonal availability of large quantity of stubble along with continuous availability of animal waste and natural vegetative growth. Setting up of community based biogas plants is a ginormous step in this direction. The viability of biogas plant depends upon the local environment in which it operates. It is also necessary to ensure proper maintenance of the same. Availability of biomass increases during certain months in a year, introduction of storage technologies for the excess biogas produced can help to meet future requirements when the availability is minimal. Biomass should be purchased from organized formal biomass markets set up by government to ensure continuous availability of biomass.  Unutilized and waste lands can be used to grow switchgrass or willow trees for energy generation. Switchgrass is grown for feed or to reduce soil erosion. It can be cofired along with coal in thermal power plants for generating electricity. This will result in production of 35MW of electrical power, enough to serve about 30,000 homes.

There are numerous benefits of setting up biomass based power plants in rural areas like creating enormous employment opportunities, extra income for the formers from the energy crops in the waste land, meeting distributed load requirements, and extra electricity can be transferred to the grid to meet country’s power requirements.