Greenjoules Plans Agri-Waste-To-Fuel Plant In Pune

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Science and Technology

Why in the News?

Greenjoules Private Limited has secured ₹250 crore in funding to establish an agri-waste-to-fuel plant at Khed City near Pune, Maharashtra.

News in Brief

• Greenjoules plans to establish a plant at Khed City near Pune, with a production capacity of up to 2 lakh litres of bio-crude per day.
• The company operates a 15,000-litre-per-day facility at Chakan, near Pune, which is expected to expand to 30,000 litres per day.
• The company aims to achieve a total bio-crude production capacity of 5 lakh litres per day by 2028.
• The project has secured ₹250 crore, including ₹100 crore from the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology and ₹150 crore through a Series B funding round from investors.

Key Highlights

• Technology used
  • Greenjoules has developed a proprietary technology called the Integrated Catalytic Thermo Cracking Process.
  • It converts agricultural residues into bio-crude in the presence of multiple catalysts at approximately 600 degree Celsius.
  • The process uses agricultural waste rather than food crops as its primary raw material.
• Agricultural Waste used
  • The plant will utilize different types of agricultural residues, including paddy straw and husk, groundnut shells, cashew shells, sugarcane baggasse.
  • These residues are often underutilized and can contribute to environmental pollution when disposed of through open burning.
• Conversion into Renewable Fuels
  • The bio-crude produced can be processed in conventional oil refineries to manufacture renewable diesel and bio-naphtha.
  • According to the company, approximately 75% of every litre of refined bio-crude can be obtained as renewable diesel.
  • The renewable diesel can be used in existing vehicles without requiring engine modifications.
• Addressing the food-versus-fuel debate
  • Unlike conventional biofuels produced from sugarcane, cereal grains and vegetable oils, this process uses agricultural rsidues.
  • It therefore reduces direct competition between food production and fuel production for agricultural resources.
• Investment and expansion
  • The ₹250 crore investment will support the development of the Khed facility in phases from 2027.
  • The proposed facility is expected to become the largest of its kind in India.
  • The funding includes institutional support from the Technology Development Board and private investment.

Government Initiatives related to Biofuels

• National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 (amended in 2022): Promotes biofuel production, diversification of feedstocks and higher blending of biofuels with conventional fuels.
• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme: Promotes ethanol blending in petrol to reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana: Supports the establishment of advanced biofuel projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstocks.
• SATAT Initiative: Promotes the production and use of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) from agricultural residues, municipal solid waste and other organic waste.

Significance of Agri-Waste-To-Fuel Technology

• Agri-waste-to-fuel technology offers several environmental and economic benefits.
• It promotes sustainable agricultural waste management by converting crop residues into useful fuels, reducing the practice of open-field burning and helping control air pollution. It strengthens energy security by supporting domestic renewable fuel production and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
• The technology also promotes a circular economy by converting agricultural waste into commercially valuable products.
• Further, it can provide additional income opportunities for farmers by creating a market for agricultural residues.
• From a climate perspective, the use of agricultural waste for renewable fuel production can help reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels, depending on the production process and sourcing of raw materials.

Challenges

• Despite its potential, agri-waste-to-fuel technology faces several challenges.
• Feedstock availability remains a concern, as agricultural residues are seasonal and ensuring a continuous supply throughout the year can be difficult.
• The dispersed nature of agricultural waste across rural areas increases the cost of collection, storage and transportation.
• Further, advanced conversion technologies require substantial capital investment, specialized infrastructure and technical expertise.
• Ensuring the commercial viability of biofuels in another challenges, as production costs must remain competitive with conventional fossil fuels.
• In addition, excessive removal of crop residues from fields may reduce soil organic matter affect nutrient recycling and adversely impact long-term soil fertility.

Way Forward and Conclusion

India should strengthen biomass collection and storage infrastructure, encourage FPO participation and promote research to improve biofuel production efficiency. Financial incentives and public-private partnerships can help reduce costs and scale up advanced biofuel projects while ensuring sustainable residue management.

Agri-waste-to-fuel technology can turn agricultural residues into valuable resources, supporting a circular economy, energy security and cleaner agriculture while advancing India’s clean energy transition.

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