India assembles top energy research bodies to develop next-gen fuel resources

In a first of its kind move, India has assembled its top energy research agencies to work together with an aim to develop the next generation of fuel resources for cutting edge commercial applications.

These agencies are Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF), which is Indian Railways' alternate fuel arm; Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) Dehradun, and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). All these state-owned agencies are working to develop solar-assisted Biomass Pyrolysis technology so that methanol can be produced as an alternate fuel.

"An alternate route of Methanol production is by using biomass, wood and waste products. Currently, people use the catalytic route (enzymatic route) for this. We aim to do this through biomass pyrolysis," Ravinder Gupta, Chief Administrative Officer of IROAF told ET.

While IROAF is working with an aim to use solar energy to convert wood and bio-waste into wood-oil, IIP is researching on ways to convert wood-oil into methanol.

Separately, IROAF is also experimenting with Hydrogen-powered fuel cells to generate power. It has also been given the responsibility of exploring new avenues to fuel Indian Railways.

"We are also working on fuel cell technology. Hydrogen-run fuel cells have also become affordable. On an experimental basis, we are going to fit a hydrogen fuel cell for powering guard vans attached to trains as a standby. Fuel cells can generate power up to 300 kilowatts," Gupta said.

(Image source Incore)