Chandigarh, Oct 7
Marking a significant leap towards transforming green energy and agricultural landscape, the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, to establish a pilot demonstration project for the production of green hydrogen from biomass, particularly paddy straw.
This strategic partnership will pave the way for a sustainable and thriving future for the state by turning the challenge of paddy stubble management into a lucrative opportunity for green energy production.
The pact, which was signed by the PEDA's Chief Executive Officer, Neelima and the Registrar of IISc, was formally exchanged between Neelima and Prof S. Dasappa of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), IISc, in the presence of Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Naik at the 5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Bio-Energy Research held at the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE) in Kapurthala.
Congratulating the PEDA for this transformative collaboration, state New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora stated the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is engineering an energy revolution. He emphasised that the collaboration with IISc underscores the state's commitment to clean energy innovation, leveraging agricultural waste to produce green hydrogen.
This initiative, he noted, is crucial for creating a circular economy that empowers farmers, cleans the environment and fuels industries with carbon-free energy, ultimately building a robust, pristine and energy-independent Punjab.
Arora highlighted that this collaboration will establish a pioneering facility to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of green hydrogen production from agricultural residues.
The project will tackle stubble burning, improve air quality and boost the rural economy by creating new revenue streams for farmers and generating employment opportunities in the green energy sector. This initiative will significantly advance India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and support states’ ambitious renewable energy goals, he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a farmer's daughter from Ludhiana, I'm really hopeful about this. My father has been struggling with stubble management for years. If this can create additional income for farmers while solving pollution, it's a win-win situation for Punjab.
Great initiative but implementation is key. Hope they ensure fair pricing for farmers and don't let middlemen exploit the system. The government should provide proper training and infrastructure support at village level.
This is exactly the kind of innovation India needs! Converting agricultural waste into clean energy while creating jobs - brilliant thinking. Hope this pilot project succeeds and can be replicated across other states too. 🌱⚡
IISc Bangalore's involvement gives me confidence in the technical feasibility. They have excellent research capabilities. Looking forward to seeing how this contributes to India's green hydrogen mission targets.
While the concept is promising, I hope they've done proper cost-benefit analysis. Green hydrogen production is energy-intensive - hope the process itself doesn't require more energy than what it produces. Still, a step in right direction for Punjab's energy independence.
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