Relevance: GS-3 (Environment, Agriculture, Renewable Energy)
Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Indian Express
India produces over 500 million tonnes of crop residue annually; Punjab and Haryana alone generate ~30 million tonnes of paddy stubble. New projects show that converting stubble into compressed biogas, pellets and bio-CNG can unlock a ₹270-crore annual market, reducing open burning and pollution.
Waste-to-Energy: The Process
Stubble and biomass are converted into energy through:
- Anaerobic digestion: Stubble is broken down without oxygen to produce biogas, which is purified into bio-CNG.
- Torrefaction/pelletisation: Biomass is mildly heated and compressed into energy-dense pellets for power plants.
- Pyrolysis: Biomass is heated in zero oxygen to yield bio-oil, bio-gas, and biochar.
Challenges, Solutions and Benefits
Challenges | Solutions | Benefits |
| High collection cost | Farmer cooperatives, machinery banks | Reduces stubble burning |
| Limited processing units | Faster clearances, viability gap funding | Creates rural jobs |
| Low awareness | Extension services, FPO involvement | Supports clean energy, SDGs 7 & 13 |
Q. In waste-to-energy systems using crop residue, which of the following processes can generate bio-CNG?
- Anaerobic digestion
- Gasification
- Pyrolysis
Select the correct answer:
A. 1 only; B. 1 and 2 only;
C. 2 and 3 only; D. 1, 2 and 3
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success
Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.