Organic Recycling Systems Limited has initiated a pilot project aimed at unlocking value from hard biomass agricultural waste, a segment that has remained largely underutilized within India's bioenergy ecosystem.

Through its NABL-accredited research facility, the ORS Research and Innovation Centre (ORS-RIC) in Navi Mumbai, the company has begun testing a 10 kg/hour Downdraft Gasification System. The technology converts hard agricultural residues such as coconut shells, cashew nut shells, and groundnut shells into clean syngas and high-grade biochar through a controlled thermochemical process.

The pilot is currently evaluating four feedstocks—tender coconut shells, brown coconut shells, cashew nut shells, and groundnut shells—with a focus on optimizing operating parameters to maximize charcoal yield and carbon quality. At this stage, the study remains in the process optimization phase, and no performance results have been disclosed.

According to Yashas Bhand, the initiative addresses a significant yet largely untapped category of agricultural waste and could pave the way for commercial-scale conversion of hard biomass into valuable energy products if the trials prove successful.

The company noted that successful commercialization could help lower fuel and electricity costs while creating opportunities to deploy the technology across industries dealing with hard biomass waste management challenges.

The downdraft gasification project further strengthens ORS-RIC's innovation pipeline, which currently includes multiple research initiatives spanning biochar, advanced catalysts, carbon membranes, carbon dioxide utilization, and microalgae-based treatment technologies.