UP First Bio Coal Production Plant – Burning Issues

Table of Contents

In keeping with its promise to double income of farmers, the state government has decided to buy agricultural waste and wean away farmers from stubble burning, which accelerates air pollution.
To provide a tech fillip, the state government set up a bio-coal production unit in Risia in Bahraich district.

Paddy straw, corn stalks, sugarcane leaves are being bought at Rs 1500-2000 per quintal from farmers of the region and ploughed into the Bahraich plant. And around 10,000 quintals have also been bought from farmers so far.
The trial-run of manufacturing fuel briquette pellet from agro-waste was successfully completed recently.

MANUFACTURING FUEL BRIQUETTE PELLET FROM AGRO-WASTE

Bio coal is a carbon-neutral fuel that can replace fossil coal in industrial processes.
It is produced within the process of Biogreen pyrolysis and carbonization of raw biomass.
Thermal conversion of biomass, which is done under the oxygen-free conditions process, allows to remove volatile organic compounds and cellulose components from the feedstock and create a uniform, solid biofuel with characteristics similar to the ones in fossil coal.

The character of the biocoal is significantly different from the typical standard wood pellets or briquets.
It features higher energy density, high carbon content, hydrophobic properties and significant resistance to biological degradation.
Thanks to that, biocoal can offer a sustainable and fossil-free alternative for industries.

This is the first plant in the state, which is making fuel briquettes from agricultural residue. The unit has received an order for pellet supply of 1000 tonnes per day by Unchahar unit of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

The unit has also provided direct and indirect employment to over 100 persons while boosting income of farmers from agriculture waste.
Agriculture produce commissioner, Alok Sinha, said, “We are motivating others to set up such units in the state for manufacturing pellets, ”

Government officials said, the cost of setting up the plant is around Rs 3.10 crore.
The trial has also been completed by sending 106 quintal fuel briquette pellets to NTPC for producing electricity.
The state government has also provided an exemption of 2.5% on GST for 10 years and a 25% grant on capital cost will also be provided.
The officials said, two proposals from Shahjahanpur and one each from Pilibhit, Faizabad, Basti and Gorakhpur have been received to set up similar plants and training is being imparted on ways to manufacture pellets from agricultural residue by mixing with coal.