Electricity from Agricultural Waste in India

Project type: Biomass

Project location: Karnataka, India

Project status: Completed, no credits available

Annual CO₂ reduction: 20,000 t

Through technical innovations, it has become possible to use biomass as a valuable fuel source. This has led to a revolution in the little-developed region of Karnataka in India. Biomass, which has previously been burned as waste on the fields, suddenly has value and increases the income of the local farmers.

The purpose of the project is to utilize available biomass in the region as an efficient fuel for energy production. What is unique about this climate protection project is that waste with low thermal value can be used. The waste is now no longer being burned or left rotting on the fields, where it has for a long time polluted the environment and released greenhouse gases.

For the local population, this project located in the South of India brings both social and ecological advantages: The project creates over 400 jobs in the region. The farms receive an additional income for providing the power plant with their agricultural waste. The project prevents the uncontrolled burning of agricultural waste and thereby reduces harmful emissions and ground water pollution. After the waste has been burned in the power plant, the ash  is used as a fertilizer and so further energetically utilized. The farmers who buy this fertilizer are encouraged to practice biological agriculture.

In April 2007, this project was the first CDM project worldwide to produce certificates accredited by Gold Standard. This project reduces approximately 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

From this project there are no emission reductions currently available.

Situation without project

Regional fuel mix

Project standard

Project number

7107

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