Time to harness biomass to combat climate change in Punjab

In 2023, abnormal weather patterns emerged, with early rainfall and the arrival of Cyclone “Biparjoy” hitting Saurashtra, Kutchh, and adjacent areas. This event severely affected over 1000 villages. The impact included cloudbursts, floods, and landslides in the hills, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods from June to August. Rainfall in Kargil was 5-4 times the Long Period Average (LPA), while Leh and Ladakh experienced 3.3 times the average. Western Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Kutchh’s hot deserts saw 2.3 times the normal rainfall.

Tragedies like deaths, displacements, and evacuations were widespread, with immense challenges in providing shelter, resettlement, and aid to both humans and livestock. Agricultural losses were substantial, impacting orchards, crops, and forage. Floodwaters carried debris, soil, and vehicles downstream, breaching embankments along rivers such as Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Ghaggar, Yamuna, and Hindon. The inundation spread diseases, further straining medical care.

Climate change is at the heart of the catastrophic suffering endured by both humans and wildlife, making urgent action imperative. Fossil fuels, culprits behind over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions and associated risks, necessitate a shift towards renewable alternatives. While strides are being made to improve energy efficiency, the daunting task of replacing fossil fuels looms large.

The private sector is channeling investments into solar and wind power, though these sources grapple with intermittency, costly storage, and intricate grid management. The pursuit of green hydro-power encounters challenges involving power distribution, forest submersion, and the resettlement of affected communities. Notably, regions like Punjab, Haryana, and UP, characterised by intense cultivation and the burning of excess agricultural residue, present fertile ground for harnessing renewable bio-energy. It’s intriguing to note that the potential of biomass energy in this area outshines that of solar and wind energy.

The North West Indian region grapples with the expensive transportation of coal from distant locales, propelling the transition towards biomass pellets and briquettes. In Punjab, the emergence of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) production gains traction due to the ongoing expansion of the gas pipeline network, resulting in gas prices that undercut those of traditional cylinders. The bio-gas generation process stands as an eco-friendly solution, yielding valuable byproducts in the form of bio-CNG and bio-manure. Notably, pilot plants by Sampurn Agri Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Arc Bio Fuel Private Limited, and Verbio India Pvt Ltd have demonstrated the viability of this transition.

The blending of 2G Ethanol, derived from paddy straw, with petroleum represents a strategic government initiative. Given that 2G Ethanol originates from non-grain surplus biomass, it takes precedence over 1G Ethanol to avert conflicts with food security concerns. The government has extended incentives to establish 2G Ethanol plants, with IOCL and HPCL investing significantly in Haryana and Punjab.

However, a key challenge revolves around procuring and managing biomass, which constitutes a substantial portion of overall manufacturing costs. Several baling machinery units received a substantial 50% subsidy last year. Additionally, the ongoing Comprehensive Resource Management (CRM) scheme for 2023 also offers a 50% subsidy for a limited number of balers. This year, 2023, has brought forth a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model aimed at streamlining the consolidation of biomass supply chain logistics.

Under this novel approach, the government will subsidise 65% of the machinery’s cost, while the user industry will contribute 25%, and the remaining 10% will be borne by the aggregator (a farmer or entrepreneur). An agreement will be established between the user industry and the farmers/aggregators, and all financial transactions will be channelled through a mutually agreed-upon Escrow account, ensuring the proper utilisation of investments. This PPP model aims to enhance supply chain logistics to meet industry demands, ultimately securing a consistent raw material supply, promoting the sale of bales from farmers/aggregators, and generating environmentally friendly employment opportunities within the rural sector.

Each baling machine provides employment for approximately 30 unskilled labourers and rents out roughly 11 small to medium Horse Power (HP) tractors from local farmers. Notably, this maximises the surplus capacity of existing farm machinery and contributes to the income of farmers.

(The author is Senior Advisor (Renewable Energy Program) CRRID, and  former CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority, Niti Aayog)