Introduction
In India, the growing concerns about long-term energy security, depleting fossil fuel reserves, and their environmental impact have created a greater stimulus to promoting renewable energy, particularly in sectors where larger gains are possible. Quality energy services resulting in improved productivity are seen as harbinger driving economies and societies. In light of the energy security challenge, it becomes imperative to adopt strategies for an energy mix that lead towards a low-carbon development pathway.
India has 140 million hectares of net sown area, with a large diversity in the type and productivity of crops. A large amount of crop residues are generated after harvest. These residues are mainly used for animal feeding, mulch and manure, and as a source of energy for rural households and industrial use. However, a large portion of crop residues is not utilized and burned to clear fields for sowing the next crop. It is estimated that about 683 million tons of crop residues is produced annually from 11 major crops grown in India. The total annual crop residue surplus is estimated to be approximately 178 million tons, which is largely burnt on the field and has a substantial impact on air quality due to emissions of particulate matter. 1 In addition to the availability of excess unutilized biomass, urban India also generates about 70 million tons of municipal solid waste each year that mostly goes into unregulated landfills. According to official estimates, on an average only 70% of waste generated is collected, while the remaining 30% is again mixed up and lost in the urban environment.
Recent initiatives by the Government of India have spurred the effort to address the following challenges:
» Environmental concerns associated with manure and agro-industrial waste management
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