Bio-energy and Environmental sustainability – a case of India
Jayant Sarnaik Applied Environmental Research Foundation, India
www.aerfindia.org
OutlineIntroduction
Major drivers influencing bio-energy development
Availability and sources of biomass
Biomass based power generation
Biomass utilization by different sectors
Biomass as a traditional source of energy
Liquid bio-fuels and energy security
Environmental sustainability
Environmental impacts of bio-energy production
Bio-fuels and biodiversity
Transition to sustainable energy futures
Renewable Energy and Climate change Workshop, Mumbai. 07-12-2012
IntroductionAERF is registered NGO working in India , in the field of Participatory Conservation for last 15 years. A member of IUCNand Roundtable on Sustainable Bio fuels , AERF is working for mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in development andbusiness sector through five thematic programs: • Sacred Groves’ conservation• Applied Biodiversity Research• Communities, Conservation and climate change.• Energy and Biodiversity• Business and Biodiversity
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Favorable agro-climatic conditions and rich natural resource base
Leading producer of various agro-commodities with substantial bio-energy potential( sugar, rice , wheat, cotton, fruits and vegetables)
Contribution of Agriculture to India’s GDP- 15%
Long term support to bio-energy at policy level
Fourth largest economy and fifth largest GHG emitter
Easy access to carbon funding
(Source : Pewclimate.org, ibef.org )
Major drivers influencing bio-energy development
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Availability and sources of biomassCategories Biomass Availability in Million
Tonnes Coal equivalent in Million tonnes
Agriculture residues A Rice straw 9 58.4
Rice husk 19.9 15.7Jute Sticks 2.5 2.3Wheat straw 50.5 37.5Cattle dung 1335.00 128
Agro-industrial by productsB Bagasse 28.1 22.4
Molasses 2.1 0.8Oil-seed cakes 6.7 0.9Saw dust 2 3.4
C Forest products Mahua flowers 1 0.4Leaves , top etc. 3.3 3
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Continued…
Biomass availability estimatesYear Biomass estimates ( in Million tonnes )
Ravindranath Biomass Atlas IISCProduction Surplus**
1996-97 626.51998-99 653.4* 546.4 139.42004-05 741.0* 619.0* 157.9*2010-11 840.6 701.2* 178.8*2024-25 1127.3* 938.0* 239.2*Notes: * Projections based on 2.12% annual growth (same as Ravindranath’s two year values) ** Surplus biomass fraction assumed constant as given in biomass atlas of IISc.
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Biomass based power generationSr.no. State Up to
31.03.20032003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Total
(MW)
1 Andhra 160.05 37.7 69.5 12 22 33 9 343.25
2 Chhattisgarh 11 -- -- 16.5 85.8 33.5 9.88 156.1
3 Gujarat 0.5 -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.5
4 Haryana 4 -- 2 -- -- -- -- 6
5 Karnataka 109.38 26 16.6 72.5 29.8 8 12 274.28
6 Madhya Pradesh 0 1 -- -- -- -- -- 1
7 Maharashtra 24.5 -- 11.5 -- 40 38.5 41.5 155.5
8 Punjab 22 -- -- 6 -- -- -- 28
9 Rajasthan 0 7.8 -- 7.5 8 -- 8 31.3
10 Tamil 106 44.5 22.5 -- 42.5 75 18.2 308.7
11 Uttar Pradesh 46.5 12.5 14 48.5 -- 79 172 372.5
Total 381.3 129.5 136.1 163 228.1 266 270.5 1677.13
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Continued…
Potential for energy production from industrial wastes- Total 1800 MW (2009)
Actual power generation from industrial waste including under development- 180 MW.
Potential for power generation from Municipal solid waste– 3650 MW
Potential for Combined Heat and Power generation in Indian industry- 8000 MW
Contribution of Sugar industry to CHP potential- 5000 MW.
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Biomass utilization by different sectorsStates Rajasthan Maharashtra Chattisgarh PunjabDifferent uses of Biomass
% % % %
Fodder 59.88 44.15 64.27 56.51
Domestic fuel 11.43 8.64 0 3.68Biomass based power plants 3.2 8.42 18.41 5.64
Brick kilns 3.04 1.79 1.24 0
Mulching 5 0.41 4.2 1.79
Thatching 2.35 0.28 3.5 0.89
Cement 0 1.25 1.06 0
Oil mills 6.86 20.02 0 0
Left in the field 4.57 0 0 12.5Other local industries using biomass 4.64 0 1.72 1.96
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Biomass as a traditional source of energy
Per capita consumption of biomass as
source of energy- 380 Kgs ( 1991).
Share of biomass in
total primary energy
consumption of country – 45%
Share of fuel wood in
traditional energy use-
53%
Household level
consumption of biomass as source of
energy- 83%
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Liquid bio-fuels and energy security
India is the fifth largest and one
of the fastest growing
petroleum oil consumers in the
world.
72% of India’s requirement of
Oil is met through imports.
India’s oil import expenditure has
grown 3 folds since 2004-05
due to increase in prices.
Annual growth in India’s carbon emissions/year-
3.2%
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Policy and development of Bio-fuelsMajor trigger for adoption of bio-fuels- GOI’s transport policy for stricter environmental norms - Euro III/Euro IV.
Ethanol blended petrol production started in 2003.
Requirement of Ethanol production for 5% blending- 2.3 billion liters. Target for blending is 20% for 2017.
Main raw material for ethanol production- molasses.
Estimated bio-diesel processing capacity -200,000 Metric tons/year, however plants are non-operational.
Reasons for lack luster performance of bio-diesel sector- single species based production policy.(2003)
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Production of Ethanol( Million Liters)Item\Year 2006/07 2007/08 20008/09 2009/10
Total Molasses Production (Million tons)
13.11 11.31 6.88 8.60
Total Alcohol Production 2280 1890 1,032 1,420
Opening Stocks 700 1269 1,254 706
Imports 39 5 200 200
Total Supply 3019 3164 2,486 2,326
Industrial Use 650 700 700 720
Potable Liquor 800 850 880 950
Ethanol for Blended Gasoline
200 280 100 50
Other Use 100 110 100 110
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Environmental sustainability
“Ensuring that the overall productivity of accumulated human and physical capital resulting from development actions more than compensates for the direct or indirect loss or degradation of the environment.”
The World Bank
To ensure environmental sustainability while achieving development- Millennium Development Goal- 7
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Environmental impacts of bio-energy production and use
Land use conversion
Degradation of and threats to eco-sensitive regions
Loss of biodiversity and threats from invasive species.
Indoor air pollution
Water stress and pollution
Reduction in ecosystem resilience to climate change
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Molasses based Ethanol production
Waste water generation ethanol produced per liter- 8-12 liters.
Characteristics of wastewater- COD-35000-70,000 mg/l, BOD-20,000-40,000 mg/l, TDS- 40,000-60,000 mg/l
Inadequate and energy intensive treatment methods leading to severe pollution of surface and ground water.
Energy required for treatment of wastewater balances out energy generated from Ethanol. Detailed LCA necessary.
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Bio-fuels and Bio-diversity
India is one 17 mega-diverse
countries in the world.
There are more than 300 native
oilseed bearing tree
species in India.
Significant potential to
tap underutilized
species for bio-fuel
production and conserve native species
diversity
Pongamia pinnata,
Madhuca indica and
Calophyllum innophyllum ,
Azdirachta indica are some
of the high yielding bio-
diesel feedstock species.
Jatropha curcas is an exotic and
toxic species which has failed as a
crop in various states
of India.
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Transition to sustainable energy futures
Resource assessment key to energy planning and environmental sustainability.
Decentralized energy solutions are economically viable and environmentally
sustainable.( AERF projects)
Research and development in underutilized bio-energy feedstock( Calophyllum innophyllum)
needs to be promoted.
Advanced technologies to improve efficiency and reduce resource consumption.
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Renewable Energy and Climate change Workshop, Mumbai. 07-12-2012
Opportunities for low carbon bio-fuel production
Harnessing the
existing
potential
of cashew
on 1 million
hectares acro
ss various states of India-
avoiding land use
change
Converting waste
into energy- no
competition with
food
Potential solution at
industrial
scale