Biomass Utilisation for Meeting Sustainable Development Goals

Human civilisation moved to its next level of advancement through the discovery of fire. Fire as the source of energy changed the way humans survived, from eating cooked food to protecting their settlements from wild animals. Fast forwarding, the discovery of fuels such as coal and other fossil fuels churned the Industrial Revolution. But along with rapid industrialisation, the use of these fuels rapidly polluted the atmosphere, and today we stand at such a juncture that the future of human civilisation is at risk due to the excessive and unregulated use of fuel. Humans have come a full circle, and for the survival of this and the future generation, there is an urgent need to explore all the alternative sources of energy that can negate the effects of fossil fuels. Biomass is one such answer to this need. The abundant availability of biomass, the availability of technologies and the ability to decentralise the process make biomass the most appropriate candidate. Along with a source of energy, biomass utilisation for energy and other uses can also curb the issues associated with the widespread burning of agricultural residue. Co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants is recognised as a feasible method to curb the “burning” issue as well as reduce the carbon footprint of the power plants which use coal for energy. Biomass utilisation for energy can also assist in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of clean and affordable energy (SDG 7), to build sustainable communities (SDG 11) and fight climate change (SDG 13). This chapter thus discusses the use of biomass for the production of energy, the policies from the Indian perspective and the associated challenges. The chapter also makes suggestions to improve and popularise the efficient use of biomass for energy production.