Clean Energy Instead Of Polluted Air: Verbio Supports India's Battle Against Smog

Sustainable contribution to reducing air pollution which is damaging to health | Climate-friendly production of biomethane from surplus rice straw | Strengthening value creation in rural areas

Delhi’s air pollution has reached record levels worldwide in recent days, with Indian authorities reporting “very poor” to “severe” air quality. The main reason for this is the burning of straw from rice and wheat production. Several million hectares of agricultural land in northern India are currently on fire again. Verbio’s straw biomethane technology offers a practical solution to this – the technology avoids the burning of straw and thereby reduces smog pollution, and at the same time clean energy is generated.

Due to the climatic conditions in India, two harvest cycles per year are possible. As the time between the harvest cycles is too short for the natural rotting of the remaining straw in the field, the straw is burnt after harvesting. In regions such as Punjab and New Delhi in particular, this causes intense smog and the air quality deteriorates dramatically. According to expert reports, the health effects are considerable: the risks of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer are increased, resulting in more than one million deaths annually (see video “From Straw to Green Power”) (https://youtu.be/NfaaK2YW2RQ).

Green solution for agriculture and transport
With its innovative technology, Verbio is opening up new possibilities for Indian farmers to deal with the surplus straw in the fields that would otherwise be burnt. At the Verbio biorefinery in Lehragaga in the Indian state of Punjab, around 120,000 tonnes of straw can be processed into climate-friendly biomethane every year. At present the biomethane is mainly used in compressed form as BioCNG for road transport, and there is future potential for the use of liquefied biomethane (BioLNG) in both road transport and shipping. Biomethane production also produces a valuable humus fertiliser that improves soil quality and reduces the need for fossil-based fertilisers.

The innovative technology was developed by Verbio in Germany and implemented on an industrial scale before being rolled out in India and the USA. The plant in Punjab, India has been in production since April 2022.

Climate protection and security of supply
India has recognised the enormous potential of unused biomass. Regionally-produced biomethane represents an important opportunity for the country to become more independent of global fluctuations in the prices for fossil fuels. On the Indian government’s agenda are value creation and employment for rural areas, combined with climate protection and increasing energy independence.

In October 2018 the Indian government launched the SATAT programme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) as part of the national climate strategy on the road to net-zero emissions by 2070. The initiative promotes the production and utilisation of biomethane as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The Verbio plant is the first and largest biorefinery of its kind in India, built as part of the SATAT programme launched by the Indian region in 2018.

Claus Sauter, Chief Executive Officer of Verbio SE, said: “With our technology, not only do we want to make a contribution to climate protection, we also want to contribute to a lasting and sustainable improvement in the living conditions of local people. We have a practicable solution to the devastating smog, and in addition, our commitment creates new prospects in rural areas.”

Political tailwind offers opportunities
As a pioneer in one of the fastest-growing markets for renewable energies, Verbio is intensively involved in dialogue with the Indian government in order to improve the framework conditions for the sustainable expansion of the biofuel industry and to help shape India’s energy future. In autumn 2024 Verbio signed a letter of intent with the Indian energy producer GAIL (India) Limited to jointly examine the construction of further plants for the production of biomethane from agricultural residues.

On Verbio’s plans for the future, Claus Sauter said: “India is a growth market for renewable energies. Our technology has the potential to transform the more than 300 million tonnes of agricultural waste produced every year into a clean, efficient and versatile energy source. We are in discussions with local partners to examine opportunities for a scalable and profitable expansion of the use of this technology.”