Turning paddy straw into Compressed Bio Gas

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated29/10/2022

A renewable energy revolution in agriculture has started in India with the first bio-energy plant in Punjab having commenced commercial operations recently.
Will produce Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from paddy straw.

Will utilise about 2.1 lakh tonnes of a total of 18.32 million tonnes of paddy straw annually.
Paddy residue will be collected from this year to produce 33 tons of CBG and 600-650 tonnes of fermented organic manure/slurry per day.
Will reduce up to 1.5 lakh tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western UP dispose of paddy stubble and the biomass by setting it on fire to prepare fields for the next crop.
The resultant clouds of smoke cause pollution and visibility issues in the NCT of Delhi.
Pollutes environment and affects human and livestock health.

A Framework and action plan by CAQM
For effective prevention and control of stubble burning.
In-situ efforts:
- Incorporation of paddy straw and stubble in the soil using machinery.
Ex-situ CRM efforts:
- Use of paddy straw for biomass power projects and co-firing in thermal power plants
- As feedstock for 2G ethanol plants, CBG plants, waste-to- energy (WTE) plants
- As fuel in industrial boilers
- In packaging materials
Issues:
Despite these efforts, farm fires continued unabated.
Crop residue burning is spreading even to rabi crops and the rest of the country.

2019- NITI Aayog approached FAO India
Aim: to explore converting paddy straw and stubble into energy
FAO published its study on developing a crop residue supply chain in Punjab.
Can allow the collection and final use of rice straw for other productive services (for production of renewable energy).
To mobilise 30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab, an investment of around > ₹2000 crore would be needed.
Would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 9.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent and around 66,000 tonnes of PM2.5.
Farmers can earn between ₹550 and ₹1,500 per ton of rice straw.

Cost-effective for producing CBG and pellets.
30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab
A 5% CBG production target set by SATAT scheme can be met.
Could also increase local entrepreneurship, farmers’ income and reduce open burning of rice straw.
Paddy straw from 1 acre of crop can yield energy output (CBG) worth> ₹17,000 - ideal example of a ‘wealth from waste’ approach
Slurry or fermented organic manure is useful as compost to replenish soils heavily depleted of organic matter.
Will provide employment opportunities to rural youth.

A first win-win initiative in the form of environmental benefits, renewable energy, value addition to the economy, farmers’ income and sustainability.
This initiative is replicable and scalable across the country and can be a game changer for the rural economy.