Energy Harvest

Hazardous

Open field burning is unsafe and can be dangerous. Issues of visibility are of concern in addition to increased traffic accidents in the area.

Illegal

The activity is discouraged through legislation by local and state governments.However, farmers choose to ignore the law and burn the material.

Unnecessary

The residue from the harvest is wasted when it is burned; instead it could be transformed into a benefit.Waste transport is an issue. So, the burning continues.

Pollution

The burning causes pollution in the atmosphere affecting quality of life. Pollution can cause health problems for the local villagers due to breathing in the fumes.

The Problem of Open-Field Burning

Every year in October, farmers in northern India burn stubble due to lack of alternative ways for its disposal.The smoke from the straw burning becomes primary reason for creating smog which causes heavy pollution in Delhi-NCR before the onset of winter.

A study — Socioeconomic and Environmental Implications of Agricultural Residue Burning published by Springer in 2015 — sheds some light. Stubble burning, it says, results in emission of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, N2O, NO2, SO2, CH4 along with particulate matter and hydrocarbons.

Project PAU

Utilization of Paddy Straw for Bio-char (Bio-fertilizer) and Energy purposes

PAU, Coromandel Fertilizers and Energy Harvest Trust started a project to examine the effect of application of different rates of biochar from rice residue on soil quality parameters(physical, chemical and biological) and crop yield (potato & onion).

Research suggests that farmers in India burn around 116 million metric tonnes of crop residue. This burning process has a negative impact on the environment and economy as this straw is wasted and has serious implications on health and society due to the smoke and fumes produced.

Coromandel is working with Punjab Agricultural University and Energy Harvest Trust to do a three year study on analyzing bio-char as a fertilizer, analyze the energy output for rural application and do a cost benefit analysis for this technology for commercial applications.

The commercial benefits for the technology will be huge for the farmer community and the technology will also will have huge positive environmental impact. While the energy generation is one part of this project, another major part is the evaluation of biochar either as a soil conditioner or fertilizer.

Phase 1- Testing

The first stage of the project was to identify the capabilities of the Pyroformer™ in India with our partner organisation- IIT Ropar.

Phase 2- Trial run

Field testing was performed for this stage. The objective was to gain direct exposure to the local farming community and develop a culture change and village engagement.

Phase 3- Project with PAU & Coromandel

The project is partnering with the Soil Science Department of PAU and with Coromandel to conduct field trials and establish commercial viability of bio-char as a soil conditioner that returns key minerals to the soil and enhances soil structure.

Phase 4- Commercialization

Workshop for learnings and next steps for the project. The stakeholders would be NABARD, Govt. agencies, banks, prospective entrepreneurs, etc

876000

CO₂ saved(kg)

300

Acres saved from Burning

Project PAU

Hazardous

Illegal

Unnecessary

Pollution