Carbon Sequestration by Bamboo Farming on Marginal Land and Sustainable Use of Wood Waste for Bioenergy: Case Studies from Abellon Clean Energy

Abstract

World needs a new paradigm to solve deep and perilous problems of climate change, energy access and food security through radical innovation and business opportunities along with social good and financial inclusion by following Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of sustainability. Processed wood waste is a promising renewable energy source which can reduce India’s dependency on fossil fuels by tapping through efficient technology and thereby assuring energy security and employment opportunities along with waste utilization. Such system can further be linked and supported by exploiting marginal arable lands through bamboo plantation that sequesters CO2 and fix carbon in form of biomass. On this concept, case studies on 120 tons/day capacity wood waste pelleting plant and 120 acres Bamboo plantation in Gujarat, India, have been presented. The pellet plant is the only ENPlus European standards certified facility in India and Southern Asia that utilizes wood wastes like chips and saw dust from wood processing industries. Pelletized wood waste replaces 1.17 times Indian coal along with reduction in GHG emission by 1.78 kg of CO2-eq/kg of pellets. In order to capitalize on marginal lands, high-biomass bamboo, yielding 20–25 tones/acre, have been developed and planted in 120 acre as captive farming and agroforestry model at Aravali district of North Gujarat, India. The Bamboo, from otherwise unused land, can support handicraft and incense stick industry, opening additional occupational avenues and women empowerment in rural areas. Bamboo waste from handicraft industries can further be utilized for bioenergy projects, sequestering additional 20–25 tons of CO2/acre-year.