Bioenergy Value Chain
SUMMARY: Bioenergy Value Chain, or Abellon Clean Energy, is a comprehensive clean-energy system: they buy excess agricultural waste from local farmers (typically either burned, causing air pollution and respiratory illness, or ineffectively composted, releasing methane), and turn that plant material into efficient and clean-burning ‘pellets’ that can then power industrial plants, businesses and small homes.
PROBLEM SPACE: As a reliable and financially sustainable source of energy, solid biofuels holds a huge potential to render a sustainable solution for multiple challenges at local level such as…
Productive utilization of surplus biomass: According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, surplus biomass in India is estimated to be 150 mn tonnes, sufficient to generate 125 million tonnes of solid biofuel*.
Sustainable source of energy: In india, the projected demand of coal is 772 million tonnes in the current fiscal, as against target production of 578 MT, leaving a huge gap of 194.7 MT. In pelletized form, the surplus biomass can replace about 100 – 110 mn. tonnes of conventional fuels such as coal used at the industries, household and commercial levels and reduce carbon footprint by 180 mn tonnes. Abellon’s bioenergy value chain creates scope of inclusiveness and thus rural livelihood.
Sustainable energy technologies: Solid biofuels based energy technologies are more sustainable as they overcome challenges related to conventional fuels such as limited availability, weak distribution, rising prices, and carbon footprint.
Abellon is in a process of replicating the value chain in Africa, Europe and the USA.
(* assuming 25% moisture level in loose biomass)
SOLUTION: Working since 2008, Abellon has successfully set up its bioenergy value chain in the state of Gujarat.
How it evolved:
Gujarat is progressive in terms of industries and agriculture. On industry part, the state requires a reliable, sustainable and inclusive source of energy on continuous basis. Solid biofuels can fulfill a big share of this energy demand, if 23.3 MMT of annually available agri biomass can be utilized sustainably. This quantum of biomass, if used in pelletized form, can reduce 30.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Abellon’s value chain process also ensures sustainable livelihood at the grassroots level. Steps of abellon’s bioenergy value chain has been explained below:
1) Biomass sourcing: Abellon has developed a decentralized, sustainable biomass collection model involving village farmers in Gujarat. Abellon directly collects biomass from farmers, and pays monetary compensation to them on per tonne biomass basis, discouraging harmful disposal practices for biomass. HIghlights of this approach include:
• sustainable biomass collection from within a 50 km of radius of the bioenergy facility.
• Employs 3800 people (farmers, logistics providers and labors).
• Provides additional income for farmers in over 100 villages of Gujarat.
• livelihood and income opportunities for local entrepreneurs and SHGs
2) Solid biofuels (Pellexo) from biomass: Abellon has two successfully functioning state-of-the-art solid biofuels manufacturing facilities in Gujarat at Gandhidham and Vitthalapara, with a cumulative capacity of 1,00,000 tonnes/annum, and CO2 emission reduction potential of up to 1,60,000 tonnes per annum, by the end of 2012.
3) Solid biofuel based applications:
Bio-pellets – a powerful, convenient replacement to fossil fuels such as coal and lignite used at the industries. 1 tonne of biopellets can reduce 1.5 – 1.7 tCO2 and 5-8 kgs of SOx by displacement of various fossil fuels.
Bio-pellet based appliances such as community cooking stove, Pellet Hot water Generator and Pellet Burner for small-scale industries.