Environment and ecology
Prosopis Juliflora to Green Methanol: Turning an Invasive Threat into Clean Fuel
Background
-
- Prosopis juliflora is listed among the world’s top 100 invasive species.
- Known locally as Gando Baval (Kutch), Vilayati Keekar (North India), Seemai Karuvelam (Tamil Nadu).
-
- Introduced by the British in the 1920s and later in 1961 in Gujarat to combat desertification.
- Has severely degraded biodiversity in Banni grasslands by displacing native grasses.
Project Overview
-
- India’s first green methanol plant to use Prosopis juliflora as feedstock.
- Located at Deendayal Port Authority.
- Capacity: 5 tonnes of methanol per day.
- Built by Thermax Energy with technology from Ankur Scientific.
About Green Methanol
- Alternative marine fuel replacing bunker oil.
- Produced from biomass (agricultural residues) instead of fossil fuels.
- Uses Prosopis juliflora and can also process bagasse, cotton stalk, etc.
Technology Process
Gasification Stage (Ankur Scientific)
- Biomass → Syngas (H₂, CO, CO₂)
- Process occurs between combustion and pyrolysis.
Methanol Synthesis (Thermax Energy)
- Syngas → Methanol fuel
Environmental Benefits
- Up to 95% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
- Up to 80% reduction in NOx emissions.
- Eliminates sulphur oxides and particulate matter.
- Supports cleaner shipping in line with International Maritime Organization norms.
Significance
- Converts an ecological problem into an energy resource.
- Helps in restoring grassland ecosystems by removing invasive species.
- Supports India’s “green port” initiative along the western coast.
- Potential to reduce oil imports using agricultural waste.
