Biomass Potential Assessment for Biofuel Plants in North-East India

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) conducted a comprehensive study for Oil India Limited to assess the potential for biofuel production in North-East India. This initiative aligns with India’s National Bio-fuel Policy 2018 and aims to support the establishment of biofuel plants by evaluating biomass availability and identifying suitable plant locations.

TERI's study focused on identifying ten key clusters with the highest biomass potential, including regions like Nagaon, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley, East Kameng and West Kameng, Dibrugarh, Loktak Lake (specifically for water hyacinth), Sonitpur, Golaghat, and Kurung Kumey Lower Subansiri and Comboined cluster (Nagaon, Dima Hasao & Karbi and angling. The evaluation involved a detailed assessment of biomass production, consumption patterns and socio-economic factors, by collecting extensive primary and secondary data and consulting with local stakeholders, helped to validate the feasibility of biofuel production in these areas.

Through detailed analysis, TERI proposed a sustainable biomass supply chain management plan and identified suitable locations for biofuel plants, with a focus on compressed biogas (CBG) and bioethanol production considering the availability of feedstock and transportation logistics. TERI estimated that the plants in the ten selected clusters could collectively produce 146 tons per day (TPD) of CBG, leading to an annual reduction of over 1.15 million tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions

This initiative not only contributes significantly to the country's economic growth but also aligns seamlessly with the national Waste to Energy plan and contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 7, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17. TERI's study has provided vital insights into North-East India's biofuel potential, guiding future development of sustainable energy projects in the region.