Biomass Resources Assessment in Belagavi District, Karnataka

Energy plays an important role in the development of any country. Post the oil crisis the locus of the energy planners have shifted towards renewable resources and energy consewation. Biomass is one of the most promising renewable energy sources and is considered to be widely available, In India. biomass caters to about 65-75% of the rural energy needs, and in Karnataka, nonvcommercial energy sources like firewood, agricultural residues, charcoal and cow dung account for 53.2%. A study was conducted to assess the biomass status in Belagavi district of Karnataka. It assessed the biomass availability (from agriculture, horticulture, forests and plantations) and sector-wise energy demand (domestic. industry and processing sector). Belagavi was chosen for the study because it is an industriai hub and also a district witnessing fast growth. The biomass resource assessment was based on primary data through survey, collection of secondary data, sample measurements and feedback from stakeholders. The data was analyzed and the biomass availability was derived. Sector—wise energy demand was computed based on primary survey and secondary data from the literature. This paper provides results from the
biomass Resource study including biomass availability and sector wise consumption, biomass import and biomass availability in Belagavi district for energy efficient technology interventions.