Developing a Sustainable Framework of Biomass Briquetting Cooperatives to Harness Agro Residues in India Palaniyandi Balasubramani*, Dr. Veerabathiran Anbumalar**, Manika Nagarajan S*** *Associate Professor, Sona College of Technology, Salem, India. blsubramani25@gmail.com **Professor, Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai, India. dranbumalarv@gmail.com ***Assistant Professor, SBM College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul, India. mail.nagarajanms@gmail.com Online published on 23 March, 2017. Abstract This article presents a cooperative model for collecting agricultural waste, processing them into briquettes and supplying to end users. The model proposes to utilize rural manpower, non fodder residues and uncultivated land. This model was developed based on the data available for Madurai District in India and can be extended to other regions as well. The model reveals that a portion of energy need of rural India can be answered by utilizing the biomass residues generated by the agricultural activities and growing energy plantations in wastelands. The biomass briquetting cooperatives will act as an intermediate transient stage to leapfrog to large scale sustainable biomass energy utilization by agricultural India. Top Keywords Biomass, briquette, cooperatives, Hub and Spokes, India. Top |