CAPTIVE BIOMASS ENERGY PLANTATIONS – AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME

1. CAPTIVE BIOMASS ENERGY PLANTATIONS –
AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME
12th Sept 2013
7th REI, New Delhi

2. About Us
A Safer, Better and Healthier Planet
Delivering Green Value
Innovative, Sustainable, Enhanced
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India focused Renewable Energy Advisory and Management Organization.
NG sustainable value added business models are in areas of Solar, Biomass and
green projects
Concept to Commissioning - Advisory, Consulting, Technology, PPA, EPC, Equity & Debt
Funding, Turnkey Biomass Plantation Set-up and Management
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 Renewable Energy and Cleantech – India
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Our articles on Renewable Energy and Power are published across varied Industry
leading journals, websites and magazines
Our Blog www.natgrp.org is one of the most read on Solar
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3. Introduction
What is Biomass Energy?
Biomass energy is energy from the sun captured in organic materials derived from plants or animals. Sources of
biomass include:
 Forestry residues, green waste from landfills, sawmill & other wood waste
 Agricultural crops grown for energy purposes and other agricultural waste
 Woody construction and debris waste
 Animal waste
 Sugarcane waste (bagasse)
 Municipal solid waste (sewage sludge or other landfill organics)
 Other industrial waste (i.e. paper sludge from paper recycling processes)
Biomass power generation facilities harness the energy stored in such organic materials to produce clean, renewable
power. Biomass power plants use this material for fuel, burning it under controlled, low emissions conditions to generate
electricity. Biomass energy can be generated by gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion or direct combustion
(100% biomass combustion or co-firing with coal at existing coal plants).
It is often said that Biomass power is the only power still available when the wind is not blowing & the sun is not
shining!
It provides 24 hour baseload power and at the same time, is green & cheap.
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4. Biomass Power is Carbon Neutral
Biomass to electrical power facilities are also considered to be carbon neutral as CO2 emissions
generated by combustion are generally offset by the CO2 emissions consumed during the lifecycle of the
plant or tree. By comparison, the CO2 emissions released from the combustion of fossil fuels (such as
coal, oil and natural gas) add to the imbalance of carbon emissions in our atmosphere, which contributes
to global warming. Furthermore, today’s biomass facilities are fitted with state-of-the-art pollution
control equipment to reduce other air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (“NOx”)
that would otherwise result from the open burning of biomass or from forest fires.
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5. Current State of Biomass Power in India
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Most biomass power plants in India have either shut down or are running at very low capacities due to nonavailability of feedstock.
A 1 MW plant would need, depending on calorific value, between 8000-10,000 tons of biomass feedstock
p.a.
Biomass power plants are facing severe competition from industries which are switching to use of biomass as
fuel in boilers.
Industries can afford to pay a higher price for biomass procurement as this biomass is used as a
replacement to Furnace Oil / LDO / Diesel, prices of which have soared in the new millennium.
This has driven biomass prices from approx. Rs. 800 / ton 3 years back to as high as Rs. 6000 / ton today.
Biomass power plants cannot afford to buy biomass above Rs. 2500 – Rs. 3000 / ton as their Power
Purchase Rates with the State Electricity Boards are capped.
Some biomass power producers, struggling to pay off bank loans, have resorted to significant use of
cheaper coal as fuel defeating the whole purpose.
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This has led to a situation where biomass power plant licenses are up for sale for which there are no buyers.
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Certain states have stopped issuing new biomass power plant licenses.
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Biomass power producers are lobbying hard for further increase in PPA rates.
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6. What is the Solution?
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Captive Biomass Energy Plantations i.e. growing your own biomass (such as fast growing trees / grasses etc.) on wastelands
for cost-effective feedstock security.
Biomass Tree characteristics:
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Extremely high yield of <50 tons per acre p.a.
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Grows in both tropical & sub-tropical zones
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Drought tolerant
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Suitable for even marginal lands
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Fast growing
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High headed tree, hence allows inter-cropping
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Amenable for high density planting
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Protocol for tissue culture already developed
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Technology available for boosting growth & increasing yield
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Can be harvested after either 6 months, 2 years or 4 years depending on species selected
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Amenable for coppicing i.e. plant once and keep harvesting at regular intervals for 7-30 years depending on species
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Free from serious pests & diseases
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High calorific value of timber
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7. Edge over other Renewables
Parameters
Wind
Hydro
Solar
Captive Plantationbased Biomass
Availability
Seasonal
Fluctuating
Day time
24 hours
Site specific Site specific
Anywhere
Anywhere
Location
Fuel cost
Nil
Nil
Nil
Low
Capital cost / MW
6.5 Crores
6-8 Crores
7 Crores
6-7 Crores
By-product
Nil
Nil
Nil
Charcoal / Activated
Carbon / Biochar
Employment potential
Low
Low
Low
Very high
PLF
20-30%
45%
20%
85%
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8. Benefits of Biomass Plantations
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Unutilized land will be used productively
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Land quality and fertility to increase over the long run
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Employment generation at the grassroots and village level – can reverse the migration of people to
cities by providing opportunities in rural areas close to their homes
Decentralized power generation leading to better grid efficiencies
High Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 85% assists the government to overcome its severe problem of power
shortage esp. during peak hours – unlike wind and solar which are irregular and unreliable.
Generation of 100% Clean, Green, Renewable Energy – leaving a better world for our future
generations
Most secure fully integrated power plant model in India. Its like having your own “GREEN” coal mine.
This will avoid the problems being faced by Thermal Power Projects in India currently as supply of
fuel will never run out.
Biomass parks can be created in clusters of 2000 acres generating employment & revenues on
previously unused lands
Green power will help meet RPO (Renewable Purchase Obligation) targets
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9. From this…
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10. To this…
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11. Tree Plantation pictures - Nursery
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12. Field Layout
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13. Drip Irrigation
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14. Intercropping possible
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15. Monitoring growth of Trees
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16. 150 days old Plantation
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17. 180 days old Plantation
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18. 1 year old Plantation
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19. 18 months old Plantation
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20. Dimensions
2 YEAR OLD TREE DIAMETER - 19.5 Cm
D.O.P – 10.10.2007
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21. Harvested Plantation & Coppicing
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22. Harvested Biomass
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23. Side Branches – 20 kg / tree
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24. Underground Biomass – End of tree life
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25. Grass Plantations – Land preparation
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26. Planting & Growth after 25 Days
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27. After 40 & 50 days
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28. After 60 & 70 Days
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29. Standing Grass Plantations
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30. Standing Grass Plantations
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31. Yours truly at the site. Note the Grass Height.
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32. Harvested Clumps from where Grass is
already re-growing
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33. Harvested Clumps from where Grass is
already re-growing
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34. Is there enough Land??
Parameters
India
Africa
Population
1.2 Bn.
1 Bn.
Thermal Power Installed Capacity
1,30,000 MW
1,30,000 MW* (assumed)
Land Area (Sq. Km.)
3 Mn.
30 Mn.
Land required to completely replace 0.16 Mn. Sq. Km. i.e. Less than 0.5% of the Total
current capacity @ 150 acres / MW Combined Land Area of 33 Mn.
Imp. to note that even this 0.5% land is technically always “available” and can be freed up for alternate
uses in future i.e. it is not “locked” up permanently as is the case with any other industry.
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* For simplicity’s sake, it is assumed that Africa will also have the same power requirement as India, considering the
population.
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35. World Scenario
Parameters
World
Population
7.1 Bn.
Thermal Power Installed Capacity
17,59,000 MW (2010)
Land Area
14,89,40,000 Sq. Km.
Land required to completely replace current thermal power
capacity @ 150 acres / MW
10,68,218 Sq. Km. i.e. Less
than 0.72% of total land area
CO2 saved p.a. for INFINITY *
12.5 Bn. Tons
Reduction in fly ash generation p.a. for INFINITY **
500 Mn. Tons
Savings in Healthcare costs
??
Increase in Rainfall / Water Resources
??
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* IEA, 2010
** Coal ash content assumed at an average of 20% while biomass ash content ranges from 5-10%. We have assumed 10%
for biomass.
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36. Coal Thermal Power Plant Pollution
Pics courtesy: www.greenscroll.org
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37. Coal Thermal Power Plant Pollution
Pics courtesy: www.greenpeace.org
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38. Coal Thermal Power Plant Pollution
Pics courtesy: www.texasgreenreport.wordpress.com
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39. What if Coal was replaced 100% with Biomass?
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Caveat: Other renewables will also be a part of the global power generation mix but biomass is the only
renewable fuel that can replace coal in today’s power plants which cannot be simply discarded.
No incremental or new emissions of carbon dioxide (burning of coal releases stored CO2 whereas CO2
released by burning biomass is absorbed by the next biomass plantation growth cycle
CO2 emissions from Fossil Fuel use (57%) and Deforestation-related activities (17%) can be eliminated
through large scale biomass plantations
We are able to manufacture everything barring fuel. Its time to remedy that by growing fuel. That is
energy security in the truest sense.
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India could save precious foreign exchange by replacing coal / oil imports with home grown biomass
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Drastic reduction in air pollution and particulate matter
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Improved health and well being of the human race
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Large scale employment generation at the grassroots level
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Living in harmony with nature instead of plundering it
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Focus on creation rather than destruction which has been our bane so far
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Sustainable and predictable fuel supply and prices
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More equitable distribution of revenues from fuel compared to current scenario where Coal, Oil & Gas
reserves are concentrated in few countries – a more level playing field
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40. The Possible Future??
BEFORE & AFTER
Pics courtesy: www.trenthead.com
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41. The Possible Future??
BEFORE & AFTER
Pics courtesy: www.zmescience.com
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42. The Possible Future??
BEFORE & AFTER
Pics courtesy: www.chinatravelgo.com
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43. The Possible Future??
BEFORE & AFTER
Pics courtesy: Bill Bishop, www.washingtonpost.com
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44. Is all this possible? Yes !!!
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Need to change our priorities
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Move from paying lip service to climate change to actual work on the ground
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45. Contact
Jai S Rathod
Director – Business Development
Natural Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
jai@natgrp.net
www.natrp.net
www.natgrp.org
Tel: +91-9820669110
Mumbai, India
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