Page 194 - CW E-Magazine (8-10-2024)

Special Report

crucial for Saint-Gobain’s manufacturing Other success stories include: sing solution to both environmental and
processes, particularly in producing  A manufacturing unit in Pondicherry, economic challenges in the biomass

asbestos sheets made of gypsum. which has transitioned to 100% industry. With their exceptional calorific
mango seeds, replacing their previ- value, low ash content, and manage-
During the initial phase, consumption ous biomass briquettes. able moisture levels, mango seeds
was high due to the oil content of cashew  A Chennai-based nut and bolt manu- offer effi cient energy production while

shells. To optimise fuel consumption and facturing company, incorporates minimizing environmental impact. The
address this issue, Buyofuel proposed mango seeds into their biomass bri- successful adoption of mango seeds as
blending cashew shells with other bio- quettes for boiler operations. a biomass fuel by industries like Saint-
mass materials such as rice husk, ground-  A fish feed production company Gobain illustrates their versatility and
nut shell, bagasse, mango seeds, and bri- in Chennai, exclusively utilizes effectiveness in reducing carbon foot-
quettes at various ratios. This blending 100% mango seeds as fuel for their prints and operational costs. As global
not only enhanced fuel effi ciency, but boilers. demand for sustainable energy solutions
also prevented boiler corrosion caused grows, mango seeds emerge as a key
by residual cashew oil sludge. After experi- Future prospects: Scaling the use of player in the transition towards cleaner
mentation, it was determined that mango seeds and more effi cient energy sources.
blending rice husk or groundnut shell The advantages of using mango
with cashew shell yielded optimal per- seeds as a biomass fuel are multifaceted Buyofuel continues to lead the
formance, meeting Saint-Gobain’s heat and impactful. Firstly, blending mango charge in promoting mango seeds and
requirements while significantly reducing seeds with other biomass materials like other biomass fuels, driving innova-
emissions compared to coal. rice husk, groundnut shell, and bri- tion and sustainability across various
quettes has proven to significantly sectors.
The transition to biomass fuels not enhance boiler effi ciency and reduce
only aligned with Saint-Gobain’s sus- fuel consumption. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
tainability goals but also resulted in Kishan Karunakaran comes with
substantial environmental benefits. To This strategic blending approach opti- over 12 years of experience and a
date, the company has transacted nearly mizes combustion processes, leading to proven track record as a biofuels
3,300-tonnes of biofuels, leading to a improved heat generation and overall ope- entrepreneur. Under his leadership,
reduction of 4,000-tonnes of total CO rational performance. Secondly, the tran- the company is successfully em-
2
emissions. This reduction is equivalent sition from coal to biomass, particularly powering trading of biofuel-based
to controlling 3,000-tonnes of direct mango seeds, has resulted in a substantial commodities in a quick and secured
CO emissions through biofuel usage, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. manner by providing a platform with
2
avoiding 1,200-tonnes of landfill emis- This shift aligns with sustainability goals, verifi ed buyers and sellers.
sions, and saving Rs. 3-crore in social contributing to a cleaner and healthier
costs. Buyofuel’s collaboration extended environment. Moreover, the scalability and With an MBA from National
beyond the Chennai unit to other Saint- adoption of mango seeds as a biomass fuel University of Singapore and B.Tech
Gobain locations. They supplied rice have been growing steadily. This scalabi- from Pondicherry Engineering
husk to the Wada, Maharashtra plant and lity showcases the versatility and effective- College, he has also founded Quantum
are slated to provide cashew shells and ness of mango seeds in diverse operational Ventures India, and has worked for
rice husk to the upcoming Vizag unit. contexts. Buyofuel continues to innovate companies such as TMN Bio-fuel
Furthermore, Buyofuel is progressing and expand its offerings in the alternative Pvt. Ltd., A.K Fuels FZE, Hitachi
towards supplying bio-furnace oil to Saint- fuels landscape. By advocating for mango Home & Life Solutions India Ltd.
Gobain’s largest plant in Chennai, replac- seeds as a high-calorific biomass fuel for and others. His deep startup expe-
ing traditional furnace oil and further boilers, Buyofuel contributes to a sustain- rience in India, the Middle East &
reducing the company’s carbon footprint. able energy future, empowering industries Malaysia, has helped him develop
to reduce environmental footprints while expertise in fund-raising for start-
In addition to these initiatives, optimizing operational effi ciency. ups including seed & venture capital
Buyofuel also supplies biodiesel for raises for early-stage start-ups with a
generators across Saint-Gobain’s units, Conclusion: Paving the way for a specifi c focus on renewable fuels &
promoting sustainable energy usage greener future alternative energy sector.
throughout the organization. Mango seeds represent a promi-

194 Chemical Weekly October 8, 2024

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