Brain Storming Session on “Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Research and Management”

ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal organized a Brain Storming Session on Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Research and Management”  on 09 November 2017. The main objective of this Brain Storming Session was to identify researchable areas and technological  interventions required for efficient utilization of crop residues for generation and utilization of biomass energy and thereby address the challenge of food, energy and environment security.

Dr. Kanchan Kumar Singh, Assistant Director General, (Farm Engineering) stressed on urgency to find viable technological intervention to prevent mass scale burining of crop residue in the field by farmers as the burning of biomass causes  environmental pollution and human health hazards besides adversely affecting the soil productivity.

Dr. K. K Singh, Director, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal pointed out that about  81% of paddy straw and 48% of wheat straw are burnt in the farmers’ field.  Each tonne of straw (rice or wheat), on burning, releases 3 kg particulate matter, 60 kg CO, 1,460 kg CO₂, 199 kg ash and 2 kg SO₂. About 32-76% of the straw weight and 27-73% nitrogen are lost due to field burning. Hence, it is a challenge for scientists to provide suitable technological solution for efficient utilization of biomass for energy generation to mitigate the climate change.  

The major points that emerged from the session were need for creation of database on (i)  assessment of availability and utilization of crop residues / biomass in India, (ii) collection, transportation and storage of crop residue, and (iii) status of technolgies available for bio-oil refinement, bio-ethanol, briquetting and power generation.

The Brain Storming session was attended by Experts from TERI, New Delhi, SPRERI, Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat, IIT Mumbai, Centre for Advanced Bio-energy Research, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Faridabad  as well as by Scientists from ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal, TNAU Coimbatore, MANIT, RGPV and IIFM, Bhopal.  

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering Bhopal)