In the present era, adopting eco-friendly practices is crucial, especially due to the depletion of finite natural resources. A recent discovery is that waste from farms, which was once seen as useless, can actually help reduce greenhouse gases and is a step towards being carbon neutral. The problem lies in finding practical ways to manage this massive quantity of farm waste. Traditionally, crop leftovers have often been burned in open fields, but this practice contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of India estimated that crop residues are produced in India annually at a rate of 500 million tons (Mt). Therefore, there is still a surplus of 140 million tons, of which 92 million tons are burned annually in India (according to NPMCR (National Policy for Management of Crop Residues, 2019).
Fortunately, an innovative approach involves converting agricultural waste into a valuable material called biochar through a thermochemical process known as pyrolysis (Safarian, 2023). Notably, the calorific value (HHV) of crop residues ranges between 12.16 and 20.53 MJ/kg, which is relatively low compared to the HHV range of 27.39 to 32.60 MJ/kg for biochar (Boumanchar et.al, 2017). This higher energy density makes biochar a more attractive fuel source and when applied to farmlands, biochar can combat global warming in two main ways: Firstly, it acts as a carbon sink, capturing carbon dioxide from the air and preventing it from exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Secondly, it helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released from the soil itself.
Dr Pradip D. Narale, Er. Revathi Kommarla, Prof Mahendra. S. Seveda, Department. of Renewable Energy Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology (CAU Imphal), Ranipool, Sikkim have undertaken in-depth research on this alternate renewable energy resource for the future.
Read the full article here: Biochar an Alternate Renewable Resource for the Future
