India Bagasse
|
Project type |
Biomass Power |
|
Location |
India |
|
Standard |
VCS |
|
Status |
Validated |
|
Portfolio |
General portfolio 2010 |
|
Total ERs |
11,043 tonnes |
Background
Biltube Core Boards Limited (BCBL) is an Indian company which manufactures and supplies paper-based core boards for manufacturing paper tubes and paper cones. Prior to the implementation of this project, Biltube’s operations were heavily carbon intensive. Furnace oil was fired in the boiler to create steam in order to dry out the paper sheets, resulting in the creation of significant GHG emissions. In fact, the paper and pulp sector is one of the most energy intensive and highly polluting sectors in India.
The project
This project involves conversion of the boiler at an Indian paper factory to enable a switch from furnace oil to bagasse (the pulp left after crushing sugarcane to extract the juice) to generate steam for drying paper sheets. Approximately 1,500 tonnes of furnace oil are expected to be replaced with renewable bagasse each year.
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Being situated in the heart of Kolhapur’s sugarcane industry, a window of opportunity arose for BCBL to switch from using fuel oil for its operations to using renewable power from the waste sugar cane material. In the process of crushing the sugar cane to extract the juices, a significant volume of this waste biomass is produced, known as bagasse. As a waste product, the bagasse is usually left to rot down outside the sugar mill or is burnt in farmer’s fields. Bagasse is assumed to be a carbon-neutral fuel as the CO2 emissions from burning of bagasse are sequestered by the plant species, representing a cyclic process. Approximately 1,500 tonnes of furnace oil are expected to be replaced with renewable bagasse each year.i
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Benefits beyond emissions
Social:
- Increased job opportunities are provided because the new system requires additional manpower to sort and feed the bagasse fuel and special training for the boiler operators. Currently, the factory employs 30 admin staff (spread over the site itself and an office in Pune) and 50 operating staff.
- On the job training and development for staff boosts skills in the local community.
Economic:
- The factory acts as a flagship in a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels by raising the profile of renewable electricity in the investment market.
Environmental:
- Reduced ash and sulphur dioxide emissions previously emitted from the combustion of furnace oil.
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