Pine needle biomass a potential energy source for himalayan region

Abstract

The Indian Himalayan region covering an area about five lakh km sq. about 16.2% of India's total geographical area. Most of the Himalayan region like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh covers with tall, evergreen, pine trees have leaves in needle shape. During the dry months every year, dry pine needle fall from the trees and cover the forest floor, which destroy the fertile top layer and also lead to uncontrolled frequent forest fires. Due to wide spread availability of pine needles in the Himalayan region, it can be used for energy generation application, like electricity production through gasification for immediate local consumption and the national grid. Using pine needle for electricity generation will not only save the environment, by preventing forest fires, but also contribute to the energy demands and energy security. In this paper, the general context for the technical feasibility, potential of pine needle for electricity gasification and the availability of pine needle was studied including social and environmental factors.