The innovative renewable energy solutions offered by CSIR through its nationwide network of high-tech laboratories are valuable contributions in meeting the country’s energy crises
Dr Anjan Ray
Energy is essential to almost every aspect of human activity. Therefore, energy across the entire spectrum of applications from generation to storage to efficient utilisation is a high priority theme area for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories. More than half the 38 CSIR laboratories operate in some aspect or another of the energy value chain. CSIR’s R&D expertise and experience is embodied in about 4,600 active scientists supported by about 8,000 scientific and technical personnel.
Non-Carbon Renewable Energy and CSIR Case Studies
Solar and wind energy are the two most prevalent types of non-carbon Renewable Energy that have been successfully implemented in India. While solar photovoltaic (SPV) power is making great strides in India by way of increasing scale and rapidly reducing cost (as low as Rs 2.5 per kWh), it requires vast amount of land surface. The rotating Solar Power Tree (SPT) developed in CSIR-CMERI takes up only one per cent of space consumed by conventional SPV systems. It rotates on its axis with all the solar panels together to generate 10-15 per cent extra power from the sun with direction from East to West. In effect, it can generate 100 times more solar power per acre of land compared to conventional SPV designs.
Energy storage solutions such as lightweight lithium ion batteries have been developed by CSIR-CECRI Karaikudi to store the surplus energy from solar/wind farms and release this when solar radiation or wind speed drop. Alternately, hybrid solar-wind systems can utilise the understanding that the sun shines during the day while wind speeds pick up mainly during the night. CSIR-NAL has developed a wind-solar hybrid turbine rotor based system (WiSH) that can operate at lower wind speeds than conventional turbines and delivers 500 W output.
Most fuels are carbon based and contain carbon-carbon bonds, but exceptions exist. Key among these is hydrogen, which provides an attractive clean energy option with significant impact on the energy security of India. Recognising the importance of decentralised Power Generation Systems for dispersed habitation in the country, a comprehensive project on the conversion of hydrogen to power using Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM-FCs) was initiated building on the inherent strength of several CSIR laboratories.
Carbon-based Renewable Energy and CSIR Interventions in bio fuels
Unlike coal, India has limited reserves of crude oil – we import over 80 per cent of our petroleum feedstock requirements for our refining and petrochemicals sector. Therefore, replacement of petroleum-derived derived energy by RE is especially important for India. Possible approaches include biofuels to replace fossil fuels in transportation by road, rail, sea or air, electric vehicles to replace fuel-driven cars and novel fuels without carbon-carbon bonds – such as methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) – to reduce atmospheric pollution relative to diesel or petrol. CSIR has been involved in R&D related to production of various types of biofuels, utilizing non-edible renewable resources, across a range of initiatives:
Biojet Fuel
CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun has developed a novel single-step catalytic process for conversion of plant derived non-edible, waste, low cost oils (such as Jatropha oil) to produce drop-in biofuel for air transport purposes at competitive yields and with properties meeting the specification required for aviation fuel. Around 5 per cent renewable LPG, 15-25 per cent renewable naphtha and 35-50 per cent high-cetane renewable diesel are produced as valuable co-products during the process. The renewable bio-jet so produced has ultra-low sulfur content and meets all the required standard ASTM D4054 and ASTM D1655 specifications. CSIR has signed an MOU with the Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority, based in Raipur, for ongoing supply of Jatropha oil and other locally available non-edible oils to support scaling up production of Biojet fuel to demonstration-scale; this will generate livelihood for hundreds if not thousands of farmers in the State.
Biodiesel
CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar has in place end-to-end knowhow for biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas. It includes identification and further development of elite accessions of J. curcas, related agro-technology for cultivation under non-saline wasteland conditions of Gujarat and Odisha, germplasm propagation for plantation raising through rooted cuttings and tissue culture for true-to-type plants in the upstream process; and oil expeller and transesterification technologies in the downstream process. The Jatropha biodiesel complies with EN14214 specifications and can be used either in blend or neat form in unmodified diesel engines.
CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Chennai has developed and patented technology for biodiesel from non-edible sources including used waste cooking oil etc. The biodiesel has been successfully subjected to more than 26,000 km on-road trials in Chennai. Performance improvement to the extent of about 10-15 per cent increase in mileage (KMPL) has been confirmed during the trials. The unique feature of the biodiesel produced in CLRI is that it ensures reduction of NOx emissions to the extent of about 10per cent in automotive exhaust.
CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute- Centre of Excellence in Farm Machinery (CSIR-CMERI CoEFM), Ludhiana designed and developed prototypes of a semi continuous biodiesel plant (600 litre/day capacity) which can convert any oil with free fatty acid (FFA) content below 4 per cent into biodiesel.
CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune has developed solid catalyst and a process for converting vegetable oils to biodiesel. The patents and the process were licensed to Benefuel Inc., USA. Subsequently, a scale-up and development work was taken up under a sponsored project funded by Benefuel Inc.
Bioethanol
CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram has demonstrated ethanol production with maximum 92 per cent efficiency from the enzymatic hydrolysates of rice straw, bamboo and sugarcane bagasse.
Biogas
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad has developed and patented an innovative high rate biomethanation digester called “ANAEROBIC GAS LIFT REACTOR (AGR)” for the treatment and concomitant generation of biogas and bio manure from organic solid waste. This technology is economically viable on the basis of biogas utilisation to replace diesel power and LPG.
CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute – Centre of Excellence in Farm Machinery (CSIR-CMERI CoEFM), Ludhiana has designed and developed low cost floating drum type biogas plant suitable for production of biogas from deoiled cake of Jatropha with capacity to produce biogas upto 6 cubic meters per day. The biogas produced has better characteristics than biogas from cow dung.
CSIR and its laboratories are committed to consistently innovating and bringing new renewable energy solutions into the societal value domain to help meet India’s energy access, while mitigating the environmental impact of energy technologies.
( The writer is Director CSIR )
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