Rice straw residue biomass potential for decentralized electricity generation: A GIS based study in Lakhimpur district of Assam, India

Decentralized electricity generation potential from surplus rice straw residue in Lakhimpur district of Assam, India is investigated in this study. Appropriately validated Linear Imaging and Self Scanning Sensor (LISS) III satellite images of Indian Remote sensing Satellite (IRS-P6 series, also known as RESOURCESAT-1), are used to map rice croplands of 1117 villages within nine development blocks of the district. Spatial availability of surplus rice straw residue and, hence, potential power are mapped using a GIS integrated methodology taking cropland and associated data as inputs. Overall, 51.5 thousand tonnes (equivalent to 788 TJ) surplus rice straw is available in Lakhimpur district annually which could generate about 5 MWe at continuous generation with 20% overall conversion efficiency. The availability, however, varies among the development blocks and villages mainly due to variations in cropped area. Estimated power potential among the development blocks varies between 294 kWe and 927 kWe. Variations of power potential among the villages are also noticed, the highest power potential at village level being 43 kWe. The clusters of the habitation nearby cropland illustrate prospective utility of straw fired electrical power in the locality. The outcomes of the present study, in the form of spatial maps, indicate prospect of decentralized generation of electricity based on locally available surplus rice straw. Straw fired decentralized generation of electricity could be an attractive option considering (i) huge gaps between the demand and availability of electricity and (ii) the remoteness of the locality.

Research highlights
► Rice straw based power potential in Lakhimpur district is assessed using GIS.
► Annual straw potential 51.5 thousand tonnes (equivalent to 788 of TJ energy).
► Power potential at block level 294–927 kWe; at village level maximum 43 kWe.
► Total 5 MWe of power potential from surplus rice straw residue in Lakhimpur.