Transforming India's Energy Landscape with Torrefied Biomass Pellets

Transforming India's Energy Landscape with Torrefied Biomass Pellets: Technology, Policy, and Sustainable Innovation

India's energy security faces dual pressures of the fossil fuel import dependency, over 40% of energy needs, and agricultural residue burning, causing catastrophic air pollution.

Increased agricultural emissions since 2011 across India. Source: M.V. Deshpande et al., Greenhouse gas emissions..., Sci. of the Total Env., 904, 166944, 2023.

The torrefied biomass pellets, also known as black pellets in the European Market, offer a carbon-neutral solution by valorizing crop residues / agricultural waste like cotton stalk and corn cobs into energy-dense fuel. With the National Bioenergy Programme targeting 5-7% co-firing in thermal plants by 2025-26, this technology joins the agricultural economies and industrial decarbonization. Moreover, India has been encouraging biomass utilization for energy via several platforms, like the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which supports biomass pellet fuel through its biomass-based power and cogeneration schemes; the Generation-Based Incentives (GBI) for biomass power to improve pellet adoption; and The state-level forestry and agro-residue mandates in the Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra support pellet production.

Thermochemical conversions of biomass. Source: W.-H. Chen et al., Progress in biomass torrefaction..., Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., 82, 100887, 2021.

Torrefied biomass pellets represent a technological leap in India's renewable energy transition, converting the surplus available, after subtracting for use as fodder, domestic household use etc., 23,00,00,000 metric tonnes of annual agricultural waste into a coal-alternative fuel.

Van Krevelen diagram for various solid fuels. Source: P. McKendry, Energy production..., Bio. Tech., 83, 47–54, 2002.

EnviroChem Services had developed and implemented it's one of the kind Self-Sustainable Torrefaction Process to produce Torrefied biomass pellets, by heating raw biomass, cotton stalk and corn cobs, up to 300°C in an oxygen-deficient environment to partially pyrolyzes the raw biomass, removing moisture and volatile compounds, resulting in dark, brittle pellets which have higher energy density (~ 4,780 kCal/kg to 5,975 kCal/kg), hydrophobic properties, resisting moisture uptake, and grind more easily, making them ideal for co-firing in coal power plants.

Technical Specifications of Torrefied Biomass Pellets.

Technical Specifications of Torrefied Biomass Pellets. Source: EnviroChem Services (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

The EnviroChem Services Self-Sustainable Torrefaction Process doesn't require any other Power Source. In other words, the torrefied biomass plant producing 7.5 MT/Hr of torrefied biomass pellets requires 25 kW of power to operate the complete plant.

3D Drawing of the Torrefied Biomass Pellet Plant. Source: EnviroChem Services (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

The EnviroChem Services Torrefied biomass pellets aid energy production, with the concept of a circular economy where crop residues power industries. With EnviroChem Services' technology suite resolving high energy cost, emission, and water barriers, India can achieve its twin goals of 5,00,00,000 tonne agro-waste utilization by 2030 and 30% coal replacement in thermal plants. These favorable policies, EnviroChem Services' technology, and sustainability position India as the global pioneer in biomass energy innovation.

P&ID of the Torrefied Biomass Pellet Plant. Source: EnviroChem Services (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

We are "Engineering Environment for Better Tomorrow" by transforming biomass challenges into clean energy opportunities through integrated technology systems.