New Delhi. Burning of paddy straw every year in India not only causes pollution but also causes huge economic loss. The latest estimate of the Indian Biogas Association shows that if farmers sell about 73 lakh tonnes of stubble currently being burnt to biogas units, then renewable gas worth about Rs 270 crore can be produced every year. That is, instead of burning the stubble as garbage, if it is used as fuel, then the farmers will get money and the country will also get a new energy source. Now let us understand how this model will work, what technology will be used in it and what big benefits India can get from it.
The cellulose present in the stubble is converted into gas by putting it in special digestion tanks. This process called anaerobic digestion does microbial breakdown without air and produces compressed biogas i.e. CBG. This CBG can become a direct alternative to the natural gas used in the country. This is not just an experimental concept. CBG is being made from agricultural residues in many countries of the world and India is also preparing to implement it on a scale.
Straw does not just produce gas, it also produces bioethanol.
Paddy straw contains about 40 percent cellulose which is very suitable for making bioethanol. Ethanol is a major part of India’s fuel blending program. Currently the country is increasing the production of ethanol so that it can be mixed more with petrol. If ethanol is made from stubble, it can lead to import saving benefit of about Rs 1,600 crore. Apart from this, 20 percent of the lignin present in the stubble can be used in making high-value chemical products and industrial materials, that is, almost every part of the stubble creates value.
New earning path for farmers
Farmers will get the biggest benefit because the reason for burning stubble is simply the lack of alternative. If the biogas plant buys the stubble, the farmer will get additional income every season. In this model, farmers will avoid burning stubble and will be able to sell CBG plants directly like in the market. With this, the fertility of the field will also be protected and pollution will be reduced.
How will India’s energy landscape change?
According to IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia, this policy is very important not only for farmers and pollution but also for India’s energy security. He says that:
- By 2028, more than 750 CBG plants can be set up in India.
- This will bring investment of about Rs 37,500 crore.
- India’s LNG imports will reduce which will save foreign exchange.
- The target of mixing 1 percent sustainable aviation fuel in international flights will be achieved by 2027.
This simply means that stubble is not just farm waste but can become a part of India’s energy strategy.
There will be a huge reduction in pollution
Stubble burning is a major reason for the smog seen every year in Delhi and North India. If 73 lakh tonnes of stubble is converted into energy, a big decline in pollution figures can be seen. This step will not only provide relief to the environment but will also reduce the cost of billions on public health.
Stubble is no longer a problem, it is a resource
Stubble burning has been a problem for decades, but India is now moving towards turning it into an economic resource. This will increase the income of farmers, the country will get new energy, pollution will reduce and dependence on imports will reduce. This means that instead of burning stubble, it can now run India’s energy engine. If the policies of the Center and the states are implemented properly, then in the next few years, stubble can become a part of India’s largest renewable energy chain.
