Power Generation Potential from Crop Biomass in Punjab

Power generation based on biomass holds a considerable promise in Punjab, which has huge biomass resources from crop production system and agro industries. The spatial distribution of biomass potential from crop residues and agro industrial waste was studied at block level for power generations using Geographical Information System (GIS). The surplus biomass for energy generation was also estimated at block level using the residue product ratio takinginto consideration the existing status on availability and in house utilization of biomass. The total biomass production in Punjab was estimated at about 54.54 million tonnes. Out of the total 54.54 million tonnes 30.26 million tonnes of biomass was available for power generation. The biomass intensity of surplus biomass for energy generation varied between 2.25 to 11.07 tonnes/ha. The total biomass requirement per year for generation of 10 MW plant was estimated. In Punjab there is a total potential of 2000 MW of power that can be generated from the surplus biomass.