Elsevier

Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume 16, Issue 3, March 1999, Pages 207-221
Biomass and Bioenergy

Land availability and biomass production potential in India

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(98)00083-XGet rights and content

Abstract

In this paper we have assessed the availability of land and the potential for biomass production in India to meet various demands for biomass, including modern bioenergy. This is estimated by considering the various demands on land and its suitability. The biomass production potential of energy plantations is assessed for different agro-ecological zones. The total woody biomass production is estimated to be 321 Mt, based on biomass productivity in the range 2 to 17 t/ha/yr for the different agro-ecological zones and considering the conservative estimate of 43 Mha land availability for biomass production. A surplus of 231 Mt of biomass (after meeting the increased demand for fuelwood and timber by the year 2010) is estimated to be available for energy, which has an electricity generation potential of 231 TWh. As a first step, only the feasible physical potential of biomass production is assessed, along with an analysis of barriers. The potential costs and benefits of biomass production strategy are not analysed.

Introduction

Globally, biomass is currently the fourth largest source of energy and supplies about 15% of the energy use, and in the developing countries it accounts for 38% of the energy use[1]. In the developing countries, biomass utilization, mainly for cooking and heating purposes, is in the range 47[2]to 55 EJ[1]. Its use as a traditional source of energy is characterized by low efficiency of use and drudgery. The modern forms of biomass energy include its potential conversion to liquid fuels (methanol and ethanol), gaseous fuels (biogas and producer gas) and electricity. Its use for heat and electricity generation has been shown to be feasible in many locations[3]. Large-scale utilization of woody biomass can generate employment and promote rural development in developing countries. In addition, its sustainable production and use for electricity generation creates no net buildup of carbondioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere because any CO2 released in combustion is compensated for by that withdrawn from the atmosphere during growth4, 5. In fact, bioenergy (wood-based electricity) can lead to a net CO2 emission reduction if used to substitute fossil fuels or fossil-fuel electricity. The use of biomass for electricity generation is especially promising because, with good management practices, biomass can be produced sustainably[1]. Growing biomass for energy on deforested and degraded areas may also help in reclaiming such degraded lands.

The availability of land for biomass production, potential productivities and the cost of production of biomass are critical issues in any assessment of biomass production for energy. These issues are particularly relevant in developing counties, which are experiencing high population growth rates and land shortages. This paper presents, firstly, estimates of the land available for biomass production; secondly, estimate of feasible biomass production potential; and thirdly, an assessment of the energy potential of biomass production after meeting the demands for fuelwood and timber. No attempt is made in this paper to discuss the financial or economic viability of biomass production and bioenergy options. However, studies have shown that compared to conventional energy options, bioenergy options are becoming commercially more attractive and they also provide environmental and socio-economic benefits3, 6, 7. The first step in analysing the bioenergy potential for electricity generation is to assess the current and future availability of land for production.

Section snippets

Sources of woody biomass in India

Primary energy use in India was estimated to be in the range 14.9 to 17.9 EJ/year in 1991. Biomass energy from fuelwood, crop residue and cattle dung accounted for 36.2 to 46.5% of the total primary energy use[8]. The use of fuelwood was estimated to be 170 Mt during 1991 and the dominant and traditional end use was for household cooking.

The major categories of biomass for energy are woody agricultural residues, agro-industrial and logging residues and wood from forests, dedicated energy

Land availability for food and fuel

The major factor that determines land availability for biomass production for energy is the demand on land for food production. The demand for both crop and animal products which is driven by population and income growth is in turn the driving force in the ongoing expansion of agriculture. Growth of income influences per capita food consumption and the composition of diet[11]. In India[12], and in many developing countries[13]in general, cereal consumption and calorie intake have increased in

Land for biomass production

Many authors have estimated the land potentially available for biomass production in India (Table 2). According to the land use/land cover statistics generated by NRSA by using remote sensing techniques[19], for the year 1988–89, the area under agriculture was 165 Mha, wastelands 76 Mha, forest 48 Mha (excluding area under degraded forest and forest blanks which accounts for 18 Mha), water bodies 10 Mha and built-up area 14 Mha. The land categories that can be utilized for biomass production,

Biomass production potential

The biomass production options that can be considered are natural regeneration and plantation forestry with mixed species or mono-species. Since the lands are in a degraded state and further as they are also subjected to anthropogenic pressures, natural regeneration may not be a suitable proposition. Thus plantation forestry may be considered. The productivity of a biomass plantation depends on precipitation (soil moisture), site quality, choice of species, density of planting, application of

Bioenergy options

Among the bioenergy options, generation of bioelectricity through biomass gasification is shown to have the maximum potential, particularly in India[3]. Power generation in India has increased fivefold from 56 TWh in 1970–71 to 300 TWh in 1993–94[27]. The growth rate in electricity generation during the 1980 s was 9% annually. However, this growth has neither led to equitable distribution of electricity nor has the total electricity demand been met. The current energy situation is that levels of

Barriers and policy issues determining biomass production for energy

The analysis in this study has shown that adequate land is available for biomass production for energy, with a potential to generate 231 TWh of electricity, by taking conservative estimates of the availability of land and biomass productivity. Despite the considerable potential for generating bioelectricity, currently there are no large-scale attempts to grow energy plantations and generate electricity using biomass. It is necessary to consider the barriers to the spread of bioelectricity

Conclusions

The extent of land available for biomass production is estimated to be in the range 43 to 130 Mha. In this report, the low end estimate of 43 Mha is considered for assessing biomass production. The study showed that using land not under crop production, 231 Mt of surplus woody biomass (after meeting other biomass needs) could be produced for energy. This estimate of biomass production for energy is a conservative one due to the following reasons:

  • Out of 43 to 130 Mha of land potentially

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) for the support provided for this study under the Asian Regional Research Programme in Energy, Environment and Climate (ARRPEEC). Some of the earlier studies used in this paper were supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Government of India.

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