Ankur Scientific, Jain Irrigation Commission Biomass-to-Energy Project in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Ankur Scientific and Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. have commissioned a biomass-to-energy and biochar production project in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra aimed at utilizing agricultural residues for energy generation and industrial applications.
According to the companies, the facility has been designed to process around 50 tonnes of agricultural biomass per day, including materials such as mango seeds, corncobs, cotton stalks, bamboo, wood chips, and other crop residues. The project uses thermochemical gasification technology to convert biomass into syngas and biochar.
The companies stated that the plant is expected to generate approximately 90 MWh of thermal energy daily in the form of syngas, which will be used for steam generation in food processing operations. The project is also expected to produce around 12 tonnes of biochar per day.
Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of biomass conversion, has applications in agriculture as a soil amendment and can also be used in various industrial processes. In this project, the biochar is proposed to be used as an alternative to peat moss in banana sapling cultivation.
The initiative comes amid increasing interest in biomass utilization and renewable thermal energy solutions in India. Agricultural residues are often left unused or disposed of through open-field burning, a practice associated with air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Industry observers note that projects based on biomass gasification are being explored as a means of addressing agricultural waste management while creating additional value streams for farmers and rural communities.
Commenting on the development, Ankur Jain, Managing Director of Ankur Scientific, said agricultural residues have the potential to serve as inputs for both energy production and agricultural applications through biochar generation.
The project is expected to contribute to broader efforts aimed at promoting circular resource utilization and renewable energy adoption in the agricultural sector.
