The adoption of biomass briquettes as a fuel alternative for the power and electricity generation sector are being discussed these days.
Key points
Biomass briquettes or biomass pellets are biofuels commonly used as a substitute for coal.
These are compact blocks of organic materials, such as agricultural residues, forestry wastes, or industrial by-products.
Briquetting is the process to improve the characteristics of biomass as a renewable energy resource by densification. Densification means less volume needed for the same amount of energy output.
Unlike traditional fossil fuels, biomass briquettes are carbon-neutral, meaning they release no additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned.
By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the adoption of biomass briquettes helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
The production of biomass briquettes often utilizes agricultural and forestry residues that would otherwise be left to decompose, releasing methane (a potent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.
Biomass briquettes have mostly been used as cooking fuel in developing countries due to their low cost and easy availability in rural areas.
Biomass briquettes have also found use as biofuel which is co-fired with coal for electricity generation in thermal power plants.
Their use in coal firing has significantly increased in the last decade due to lower carbon emissions and renewability.
In India, its usage in coal co-firing saw a significant boost after May 2021, when India’s power ministry set up a ‘national mission’ on the use of biomass in coal-based power plants.
