NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL

INNOVATION PROJECT

 

 

VALUE CHAIN ON BIOMASS BASED DECENTRALIZED POWER GENERATION

FOR AGRO ENTERPRISES

 

 

Introduction

 

Biomass based decentralized electricity generation is the best option to deal with the problems of rural power supply system. Conversion of this surplus biomass into electricity by efficient handling, management and processing for decentralised energy generation is expected to address the burning issue of lack of energy security in our villages and rural industries. Biomass can be converted into producer gas, which could be efficiently used to generate electricity. It has been estimated that 1 kWh of electrical energy can be produced from 1.2 kg of biomass using a producer gas engine. The biomass, especially crop residues, in rural areas may be collected mechanically for their conversion into briquettes. Briquetting process of loose biomass enlarges the flexibility to use different types of crop residues for preparation of feed material for gasification. After the gasification, the clean gas could be used in specially designed gas engines to generate the electricity. The supply of generated power to agro enterprises is likely to enhance the rural energy security. Assured power supply, using locally available biomass would ensure the operation of agro-industries and increased farm income and better livelihood for the rural people. Primary and secondary processing of agricultural produce at the production catchments would also reduce energy demand and cost of transportation of the produce to the market. Utilisation of gas obtained from biomass is environmental friendly as no extra carbon dioxide is introduced into the atmosphere as compared to fossil fuelled combustion systems. The decentralized energy generation system needs to be coupled with appropriate and adequate agro industrial load for increasing the load factor. Hence, proper power conditioning, scheduling and loading would be addressed under the project.

 

A consortium of CIAE, Bhopal, SPRERI, VV Nagar and TNAU, Coimbatore will implement the project. The project will be guided by a Consortium Advisory Committee for better implementation of the project considering the technological advancements and challenges. CIAE, Bhopal will coordinate for achieving the outcome of the project to generate electrical energy from biomass in a decentralised mode. It would establish the value chain for different scales of operation to assess the techno-economic viability of the system. TNAU, Coimbatore would study and assess different methods for feedstock preparation required for gasification, which is an important input for the establishment of the value chain. The SPRERI, Vallabh Vidya Nagar would be involved in the design refinement and cost reduction of the gasification technology. The technical contributions of TNAU and SPRERI would finally be amalgamated in the establishment of cost competitive value chain for different capacities of gasifiers by CIAE, Bhopal.

 

The project involves the participation of biomass producer, technology provider and consumer and would be operated in production catchment with agro-residues.

 

Objectives

¨      Standardisation of technology package for collection, densification, transportation, and storage of agro residues at utilization centre.

 

¨      Standardisation of technology package for feedstock preparation for biomass gasification.

 

¨      Development and adoption of efficient biomass gasification system for power generation.

 

¨      Integration of biomass based power generation system with agro enterprises.

 

Researchable Issues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Output / Deliverables

·       Package of practice and machinery for biomass handling

·       Optimum operating conditions for gas generation from briquettes

·       Controls for regulating the process conditions

·       Refined automated 100 kW gasifier

·       Gas cleaning technology for engine application

·       Technology for recycling and safe disposal of tar & water

·       Technology for use of char/ash

·       System for decentralized electricity generation for agro enterprises

·       Model for biomass based electricity generation systems of 20 to 100 kW ranges

·       Growth of opportunity for employment generation and income enhancement.

 


Role of Consortium Partners

 


CIAE, Bhopal

·   Identification of sites and assessment of biomass available for power generation.

·   Feasibility study of equipment /machinery required for collection, densification and transportation of biomass for power plant.

·   Evaluation of 20 kW capacity electricity generation system with briquettes of agro-residues at institute.

·   Adoption and development of waste disposal technology.

·   Establishment of power plant of 20-100 kW with briquettes of agro-residues in production catchments.

·   Establishment of energy plantation under waste land for backup fuel supply.

·   Demonstration of power generation system with agro enterprises and techno-economic feasibility study.

·   Development of entrepreneur for self-sustainability of power plant.

·   Demonstration of benefits accured from decentralized power plant such as employment/income generation and social benefits.

 

TNAU, Coimbatore

·   Identification of process for feedstock preparation for gasification.

·   Optimisation of process parameters for production of briquettes suitable for gasification.

·   Study of storability and combustion characteristics of briquettes made of agro residues.

·   Development and adoption of equipment for size reduction of wood for gasification.

·   Assessment of techno-economic feasibility of briquetting plant for gasification.

 

SPRERI,

V. V. Nagar

·   Development/adoption of gasifier for briquettes and its evaluation with briquettes of agro residues.

·   Development and adoption of gasifier sub-system for generating 100 kW gasifier.

·   Refinement of gas cleaning system for gas engines.

·   Integration of gas engine gen-set with gasifier.

·   Development of producer gas based steam generation system for agro industrial application.

·   Evaluation of integrated system in an agro industry and its supply to CIAE for establishment of value chain.

 

Positive Impacts / Contributions

Biomass Management

·    Reduction in uncontrolled and hazardous burning of crop residues due to mechanized collection and densification.

·    Reduction in air pollution.

·    Carbon accreditation through dedicated energy plantation in wasteland.

Feed stock preparation

·    Establishment of fuel market for power plants and domestic fuel supply due to briquetting of surplus crop residue.

·    Enhancement in income from surplus residue.

·    Reduction in deforestation.

Power generation

·    Assured power availability for crop production, domestic and agro-industrial sectors.

·    Enhanced growth of agro enterprises due to assured power supply.

·    Better living standards in rural sector.

·    Enhanced employment opportunity.

·    Value addition to crop produce in production catchments.

 

For further details, please contact:

 

Dr Pitam Chandra

Director

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering

(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Nabi Bagh, Berasia Road,

Bhopal - 462 038 (Madhya Pradesh), India

Phone No.:0755-2737191

Fax:0755-2734016

 E-mail: director@ciae.res.in

 

Er. Anil Kumar Dubey

Principal Scientist and Consortium Principal Investigator

Agricultural Energy Power Division

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering

(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Nabi Bagh, Berasia Road,

Bhopal - 462 038 (Madhya Pradesh), India

Mobile No.: 09993287302    

Phone No.: 0755-2521122                                

Fax           : 0755-2734016

Email        : <dubey@ciae.res.in>