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TERI SAS launches M.Sc. (Energy Studies & Management)
Sustaining the use of Biochar- economic and ecological dimensions

Student name: Ms Bhakti Anand
Guide: Dr Nandan Nawn
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: TERI School of Advanced Studies
Abstract: The study aimed at assessing the commercial deployment of Biochar was in Indian context by analysing the results of a Biochar experiment that was conducted in the three villages of Ladal, Hussainpur and Khuaspur of Punjab. Literature suggested that internationally the deployment of Biochar was met with socio-cultural barriers. In Indian context, similar barriers were expected based on the lessons learnt from biogas plant deployment which was not found to be successful despite it being economically viable with ecological benefits. Given the recent focus on subsidizing the in-situ crop residue management machinery(ISCRMM) announced in the Budget of 2018, this study attempted to economically and ecologically compare the two avenues of crop residue management- ISCRMM and Biochar. Economically, it was found that the returns in ISCRMM were marginally higher than those in conventional practices sense but it resulted in higher incidences of rat attacks leading to additional costs being incurred and negative returns in 4 out of 6 studies. Incase of Biochar the costs increased by Rs.3000/ha. Ecologically, ISCRMM was not capable of performing carbon sequestration unlike Biochar. In 2017 alone, for Punjab and Haryana, Biochar aided carbon sequestration could have sequestered 1.64million ton of carbon. When extrapolated up till 2050, volume carbon sequestered volume amounts to 5.3 billion tonnes and a carbon sink valued at $106.73 billion. Given these benefits a PES Scheme was proposed that could link Biochar application with creation of carbon sinks under the CDM mechanism of Kyoto Protocol. The potential employment generation through this scheme was 162- 265 million days per annum. Industrial investment cost arising from the Biochar deployment in Punjab and Haryana would amount to $10.2 million with a payback period of 3.04 years. Thus, Biochar is an economically and ecologically superior alternative whose use can be driven and sustained through a PES Scheme supported by its carbon sequestration potential.