India is set to establish Asia’s first bio-ethanol refinery which it is hoped will tackle soil fertility and other environmental problems associated with burning paddy straw.
An article in Business Standard reports that initially one refinery will be stablished with another 5 expected in the future. The refineries are being established through a consortium involving Beta Renewables, Novozymes and CVC India Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.
Paddy straw to produce 75 million litres of ethanol per year and co-products including biogas, pellets and compost.
Navinn Sharma, Programme Director – Biofuels with the World Agroforestry Centre, explained that the proposed plant could also use Napier grass as feedstock. Through using the paddy straw and Napier grass, the refinery may offer farmers year round revenue year with less use of water.
Read the full story: Punjab govt plans to set up Asia's first bio-ethanol refinery
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