We're making biomass briquettes using forest residues or agro-waste which include a wide-range of residues: dry leaves, grass, unwarranted weeds, (Lantana) forest residue, cow dung, sawdust from local sawmills, and highly inflammable pine needles that cause forest fires. These briquettes are then supplied to brick kilns manufacturers, boiler operators for steam generation, and food processing industries that use coal for heating purposes. The low cost and guaranteed availability of the densified biomass is the main motivator for the clients to switch to the clean energy alternative.
MyClimate Carbon Offset Project in Uttarakhand, India
Environmental
To make optimum usage of available million tons of biomass which is wasted from agriculture and forest residues. These wastes cannot be utilized directly due to very low bulk density and high moisture and ash contents. If unused, they cause fires in garbage dumps, forest fires and choking of water bodies. The loose unused biomass will be briquetted to a bulk density of more than 650 kg/m3 which will be used for small and big thermal installations. These briquettes have a calorific value of around 3500 Kcal/Kg (as compared to 5000 Kcal/kg of coal. Indian coal can be even lower). 1.30 kgs of briquettes will replace 1 kg of coal.
Social
This will generate employment in rural areas where unemployment, poverty and other economic backwardness are prevailing.
Economical
The project will also provide economic value to biomass, agricultural biomass etc. It would provide stable and quality energy to the industry and aid in hassle free manufacturing of products. The project will create a business opportunity for local stakeholders such as suppliers, manufacturers and contractors etc. We’ve currently implemented a business unit in Kotdwara, Uttarakhand.
Currently our project has generated 11-15 direct permanent employment and 200 nos. of indirect employment who are getting biomass in our processing unit at the same time this year our pine based briquettes has replaced 1000 ton of coal and 200t of LPG. By end of 2011 we are expected to replace 20000 t of Co2 emission.
According to Brijesh Rawat, Rural Renewable is looking to replicate the same idea in 5 more locations including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (Northern Hilly states of India). "Once we are fully operational with 5 more units we are expected to generate approx. 1,50,000 CER's". To finance the expansion the company is looking for investors.
Here is a news feature about the project reported by Swiss TV
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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