Augmenting and Diversifying Income from Agricultural Waste and Residue : Biofuels Junction's Role

 

Augmenting and Diversifying Income  from Agricultural Waste and Residue : Biofuels Junction's Role

 

Biofuels Junction, a leading manufacturer and value-added supply chain provider of solid biofuels, which are a cost-effective & environment-friendly substitutes to fossil fuels used in Industrial boilers and burners.

By supplying reliable and quality supply of briquettes and pellets made from farm waste, Biofuels Junction ensures that its clients which are leading Indian manufacturers have reliable and continuous supply of quality biofuels throughout the year. The start-ups clients include HUL, Marico and Haldirams among other marquee clients.

 

 

Biofuel briquettes and pellets made from agricultural residues, crop waste, and other organic materials such as such as soya husk or mustard stalk are widely used and their usage saves 30-40 per cent vis-à-vis furnace oil, that might otherwise be discarded or burned inefficiently. By converting these materials into energy, farmers will be able to monetize the waste and improve waste management practices. Biofuel feedstocks like non-edible oil seeds and agricultural residues can provide additional income to rural and tribal communities supporting agricultural economies. Employment is generated around activities such as biomass collection, processing, and distribution which can help farmers in diversification of income.

 

Biofuels Junction is currently working on creating a  tech led market place, for matching the demand and supply of briquettes and pellets made from farm waste from the farms to their marquee corporate clients. Many of the corporate clients have also asked Biofuels Junction to operate their boiler plants for them. In Financial Year 23, their revenue was Rs 70 crore and they are profitable.

There are several environmental benefits of switching to biofuels. India faces significant air quality and environmental challenges due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and furnace oil. Biofuels are much more environmentally friendly compared to traditional fossil fuels like coal and diesel.

These fuels emit pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, which contribute to air pollution and health issues. Shifting to cleaner-burning biofuels helps mitigate these environmental impacts and improves air quality. They produce lower carbon dioxide emissions and fewer pollutants, which helps improve air quality and reduces the contribution to

global climate change.

India has set ambitious renewable energy targets to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Using biofuels instead of traditional fossil fuels aligns with these goals and contributes to the country's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and transition to a more sustainable energy system. Also, many parts of India face severe air pollution, leading to health issues and environmental degradation. Shifting to biofuels can help Indian manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint and comply with national and international commitments to combat climate change.

India is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, which can pose energy security risks due to supply disruptions and price volatility. By promoting domestic production of biofuels, India can enhance its energy security and reduce its reliance on imported fuels. With rising prices of imported coal and furnace oil, and advancement of technology, the cost of biofuel production has become more competitive, making it economically viable for manufacturers to switch to biofuels. Advances in biofuel production technologies have made these fuels more viable and cost-effective. As technology improves, the economics of biofuel production become increasingly favorable compared to traditional fossil fuels. The Steep prices of diesel and gas makes biofuels even more attractive with over 50% cost savings.

Mumbai based start-up, Biofuels  Junction was started in 2016 by finance professionals Ashwin and Chaitanya who were passionate to do something related to agriculture. Their research led them to biofuels, for which they realized there was enough demand, but challenges in terms of supply.  

[Based on inputs from Biofuels Junction's Communications Consultant Ms Deepa]