Biomass power is cost-efficient

[sajiv]

All Green Energy India (subsidiary of AllGreen Energy, Singapore) will launch 10 biomass-based renewable energy projects in the country in the next 2-3 years, out of which the first three will be in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. AllGreen Energy plans to break ground on the first three projects in the first quarter of 2009.

Power is a major issue, and India has an acute shortage of it. In South India alone, the energy shortage is close to 2,000 MW. According to CEA, as of August 2008, Karnataka's total power requirement is 6,230 MW and the availability is 5,595 MW, the deficit being close to 600 MW.

To a large extent, we are dependent on the rains for power. This leaves the country's manufacturing industry in a crunch if the rains play truant. All state governments are trying hard to increase generation capacity and reduce losses, which are the two main reasons for the acute shortage. To meet the shortfall, most manufacturing and service industry players depend heavily on captive power. Diesel generators are commonly used to augment the State's supply.

"There are two problems with this. Firstly, the captive power is harmful for the environment as it consumes resources that are fast depleting. We need clean and green sources that do not degrade the environment. Secondly, this is an expensive option. The cost of production increases drastically and tells on the cost of the end product. This robs us of an edge in the international marketplace," laments Anil Lala, Director, All Green Energy, a biomass-based renewable energy company. It is, therefore, necessary to look for alternative and additional sources of power.

The total grid-interactive renewable energy capacity in India was 12,900 MW as of August last year. The renewable segment has a lot of potential with around 85 per cent of the estimated capacity still untapped. The goal is to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to 10 per cent by 2012.
Biomass atlas

"The largest potential can be found in energy from biomass," says Anil Lala. In order to map and tap this potential, the government has designed a biomass atlas, using satellite data as input for geographical information systems. "According to the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the power generation potential has been assessed as about 16,000 MW from agri-residues. However, as of September 2008, only about 656 MW of grid-connected bio-power based on agri-residues and plantations could be achieved."

In order to realise this potential, a major inter-ministerial initiative is underway. The production of a detailed atlas to accurately assess the nation-wide biomass resource base, including agricultural residues that are suitable for conversion into renewable energy sources, is on.

India has approximately 141 million hectares of arable land and agricultural output is around 800 million tonnes, which in itself generates 750 million tonnes of waste. Even after deducting 450 million tonnes which is used as fodder, 300 million tonnes could be used for biomass generation. Crop residues which are not used as animal fodder, such as cane trash, paddy straw, coconut stalks, branches and mustard waste, are estimated to total around 75 million tonnes per annum. Mill residues such as bagasse, rice husk, groundnut husk, corn cobs, saw mill waste and de-oiled cake, are estimated at around 150 million tonnes per annum. Horticultural waste would add another 75 million tonnes of waste per annum. Forest waste could be yet another major source of biomass waste.

"There are three processes for converting biomass into energy — combustion, gasification or thermo-chemical process and bio-methanation," explains Lala. "In India, the thermo-chemical route has been more successful."

This technology requires space and biomass. It is more feasible to set up such a facility in a rural area where biomass procurement is easy. Setting up the plant in a city will entail transportation of biomass and, therefore, costs. The power generated in the rural area can be evacuated to where it is needed using the State's transmission /distribution system, under the open access regime set up by the Electricity Act, 2003.

The cost of biomass fuel is considerably lesser than other sources. The cost of power from a diesel generator will be upwards of Rs. 12 per unit. The cost of biomass power can be around a third that amount.