In India, at least 200 million tonnes of agricultural waste is available. Even if 50% of this is utilised in gasification, it will be equivalent to 10,000 MW of power generating capacity or 300 million barrels of oil per year. Controlled burning or pyrolysis of biomass yields a fuel with high calorific Value, low ash content and no smoke. This fuel can be converted into briquettes through grading with binders like molasses, clay etc and compaction or extrusion, which can be easily transported from one place to other. The Bundelkhand region of North India is characterized by a depleted resource base, energy crisis, low productivity of land, all of which lead to rampant loss of livelihood opportunities. Energy, therefore, plays a crucial role in the economy of this region. The fuel-mix here is characterized by a dominance of bio-fuels including wood and non-wood biomass, agro-residues and cowdung to a large extent. Only 12- 13 percent households use commercial forms of fuel, while 50 percent use wood and other woody biomass and about 37 percent use cowdung. A detailed survey was completed to assess the types and quantities of biomass resources available in the region. During the survey, two types of biomass i.e. Lantana camara and Ipoemia were identified for different applications . Ipoemia grows near the water bodies and was to be utilised for gasification while Lantana camara grows in the forest and waste land areas and was identified for charcoal-making activities. The regeneration capacity of the biomass plays a vital role for installing any biomass based technology in the rural sector. If the rate of regeneration capacity is low, we need more biomass to meet our demand. In the case of Lantana camara, the regeneration capacity is about one year, which means that it attains the same density within this period. The Biomass Survey was conducted at Baberi and Satar nala around the appropriate technology centre at TARAgram. During the survey it was found that one sq.m. and comprises approximately 16 kg green Lantana and one hectare contains approximately 160 tonnes of green biomass, which is equivalent to 64 tonnes of pyrolyser feed stock .

Briquettes from Lantana char form an interesting alternative fuel, for domestic as well as business applications. A market survey is being done to explore other niches for the fuel and to determine the price that people are willing to pay. The diagram (on the left) gives the economics of briquette production. With market feedback, we are finalising the product characteristics and will be launching it very soon. The successful establishing of a pilot enterprise will ensure availability of an alternative to forest biomass while ensuring livelihoods. q