As the world’s fastest-growing economy and third-largest energy consumer, India is prioritising bioenergy as a key component of its energy transition, which is expected to grow up to 45 per cent by 2030 (IEA 2025; MoPNG 2023). India’s push has been reflected in launching the Global Biofuel Alliance under its G20 presidency, and in its mandated blending obligation targets (Figure 1) (MoPNG 2024). The scaling of bioenergy production aims to meet the dual objectives of reducing fossil fuel dependence and agricultural residue burning.

By channelling crop residue for biofuel production, India can leverage an estimated surplus of 228 million tonnes of biomass from an annual output of 750 million tonnes (MNRE 2024). Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh generate more than 20 million tonnes of surplus crop residue annually (National Institute of Bio Energy n.d.). The locally produced biomass-derived fuels will also result in foreign exchange savings as they reduce fossil fuel import dependence and generate rural jobs (MoPNG 2024). The byproducts of bioenergy, such as fermented organic manure, also help rejuvenate soil health and increase crop productivity, providing environmental benefits.

Figure 1. India’s ambitious targets to be a bioenergy leader

Source: Authors' compilation

Since 2018, the Indian government has promoted various in-situ (mulching residue back into the soil) and ex-situ (value-added utilisation) management methods under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme (MoAFW 2018). The push for ex-situ management has been coupled with the push for national bioenergy targets, realising the potential of lignocellulosic biomass, especially paddy straw. It is known as a valuable feedstock, having high lignin and cellulosic content, high calorific value, and is found in abundance, accounting for 18 per cent of the total surplus residue in India (National Institute of Bio Energy n.d.). While ex-situ management has gained traction in recent years, to fully utilise the potential of paddy straw, the supply chain needs a strong foundation (Kurinji and Kumar 2021).

Policy efforts encouraging crop residue utilisation projects in Punjab

Punjab, an agrarian state, has been tackling crop residue burning as it generates 21 million tonnes of residue annually. Paddy straw has significant potential for utilisation as a feedstock due to its lignocellulosic properties and abundant supply (Belal 2013). Currently, almost half of Punjab farmers burn paddy straw completely or partially to save money, control pests and prepare land for the next crop (Kemanth, Singh and Ignatious 2024). Beyond particulate matter emission, burning of paddy straw releases 70 per cent of the carbon in the straw as carbon dioxide, 7 per cent as carbon monoxide, and 0.66 per cent as methane (Kadian et al 2024). Exposure to intense crop residue burning increases the risk of acute respiratory problems threefold (Chakrabarti et al. 2019).

Responding to this, the Union and the Punjab governments have designed subsidies for farmers and incentives for the industrial use of paddy straw. Over six million tonnes of paddy stubble (out of 20 million tonnes generated annually) are targeted to be used in industrial boilers, compressed biogas, 2G ethanol, biomass power plants, and pelletisation plants (Figure 2) (Government of Punjab 2024). However, the sector is witnessing slow progress towards meeting targets due to supply chain bottlenecks, seasonality issues, and technology reliability.

Figure 2. About 6 million metric tonnes of paddy straw was targeted under ex-situ CRM in Punjab in 2025

The demand for paddy straw is increasing as more industries realise the profit potential of the various bioenergy production technologies, thereby reducing the amount of surplus residue burnt (ICAR 2021). For instance, in Punjab, only six CBG plants are currently functional out of the 78 that have been commissioned. The number of pelletisation plants operational has increased to 18 with a utilisation capacity of three lakh tonnes of stubble annually (Anju Agnihotri Chaba 2024). Besides, the Punjab government has set aside INR 60 crore in 2025 for industries to transition or set up new biomass-based boilers to generate further demand for crop residue (PTI 2025). However, a robust supply chain is critical to increase industry participation and meet the rising demand for stubble.

Why is effective storage essential for a reliable biomass supply?

Global studies highlight that storage conditions for lignocellulosic biomass (Wendt 2020), such as paddy straw, are an important parameter to consider while designing a straw collection system for industrial applications to ensure a continuous feedstock supply (Kadam et al. 2000). Factors like poor feedstock quality (due to factors like moisture content, temperature etc) and seasonal availability (Blunk et al. 2003) lead to compositional changes, dry matter loss, and fire risks (Kadam 2010). The financial viability of capital intensive bioenergy industries requires a smooth operational process which, in turn, is reliant on the quality of the feedstock.

As India pushes to increase its bioenergy production, the demand for biomass is set to grow, necessitating the need for more extensive storage infrastructure requirements to ensure a reliable supply chain. Given the seasonal nature of biomass collection during the harvest season, industries must collect and store for year-round consumption, while maintaining the quality of the feedstock, to operate at maximum capacity. As depicted in Figure 3, the current set of schemes only assists in baling, collection, and utilisation of biomass. A critical gap that needs to be bridged between the biomass supply side and end-user requirements is biomass storage.

Figure 3. Storage requires policy attention in the biomass supply chain

Study objectives

Our initial interaction with companies reported an annual loss of 10–20 per cent of paddy straw due to improper storage, with bales commonly left uncovered and stacked in open fields. Due to inadequate storage sheds, tarpaulin covers, limited health and fire safety standards, and the absence of uniform stacking configurations, paddy straw is prone to degradation.

We aim to bridge the aforementioned gap by identifying factors affecting biomass storage in Punjab, and proposing recommendations to enhance the existing and forthcoming biomass storage infrastructure. The objectives of the study were to:

• Outline factors which affect feedstock quality at paddy straw storage depots.
• Identify minimum infrastructure requirements to establish paddy straw storage depots.
• Calculate the investment required to set up a paddy straw storage depot.
• Estimate land and budgetary requirements for effective storage of 6 MMT paddy straw, targeted to be used under ex-situ CRM.

Through this study, we aim to inform stakeholders, including policymakers, industry players, and village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) about actionable insights on how to develop biomass storage infrastructure.

We structure the report as follows: Section 2 describes the study’s approach. Section 3 discusses the literature review and the gaps in the Indian context. Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 are the report’s main findings, which we categorise into four sections: feedstock collection and handling; feedstock quality; storage infrastructure; and operations and maintenance. Section 8 will outline a model storage depot, detailing infrastructure and financial requirements. Section 9 provides recommendations for industries and policymakers to establish guidelines for storage to strengthen the paddy straw supply chain.

We reviewed the existing literature on lignocellulosic biomass storage found globally and in India. Our two objectives for the literature review were: a) To explore studies on the factors that impact feedstock quality and storage practices; and b) To find if there are studies on lignocellulosic biomass storage in the Indian context.

Limited literature on biomass storage in India’s context

From our literature review, we found that most studies on lignocellulosic biomass storage are from the Western world, especially from the United States and Europe. Studies in the United States are based on corn stover, the primary lignocellulosic agricultural residue, which is also stored in the form of bales for long-term use (Graham et al. 2007).

Biomass supply chain design studies encompass the storage process as an operational and tactical decision while designing a straw collection system (Sharma et al. 2013). Feedstock storage and storage losses are accounted for while calculating the total cost to deliver feedstock for bioenergy production (Thorsell et al. 2004). Uncontrolled biomass loss occurs due to microbial degradation, due to higher moisture content found to be common in studies when storage conditions are not optimised (Wendt 2020). For instance, the US Department of Energy studied the collection, storage, and transportation of corn stover in 2003 (Atchison and Hettenhaus 2004). The study indicated that more than 25 per cent of total corn stover biomass weight loss occurs in one season when bales are kept without cover and affected by wet weather. A study in Mississippi, USA, found that moisture above 30 per cent can sustain high temperatures for up to 40 days in the bales. In addition, chemical degradation becomes dominant when the bale temperature exceeds 50°C (Lemus 2009).

Research on rice straw in California suggests that baled straw with a moisture content above 25 per cent results in fermentation and dry matter loss, with risks of spontaneous combustion in stacks (Kadam, Forrest and Jacobson 2000). The loss is caused by aerobic organisms consuming available carbohydrates in biomass in the presence of oxygen, which increases with more moisture (Darr and Shah 2012). A higher moisture content also increases methane emissions from lignocellulosic biomass storage as anaerobic digestion takes place (UNFCC 2014), although more accurate estimate studies are needed for the Indian context.

Bale properties like density, surface area, porosity, and homogeneity influence the degradation rate during storage (Ball et al. n.d.). Losses also occur due to the quality of storage infrastructure, with research discussing the various types of storage, permanent structure, tarped cover, and open storage and their loss impact (Davis 2016). Losses were low in bales stored indoors, under permanent cover, or tarped, and open stacks incur higher overall quality losses, requiring the disposal of straw (Blunk et al. 2003). The International Energy Agency (IEA) study in 2013 examined health and safety aspects of biomass storage, transport and feeding, highlighting safety measures, such as rodent control, alarm systems, and smoke and gas detectors (Koppejan et al. 2013). Countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States have provided guidelines outlining the dos and don’ts for bale storage (HSE 2012). While this study is important to identify the parameters for safe biomass storage, the Western context for losses incurred and the storage method have limited replicability for India due to the differences in weather conditions.

We observed limited research on biomass storage in the south Asian context (Figure 5). In India, a single paper on biomass storage research dates back to 1991. It stresses uniform bale stacking and key storage infrastructure requirements to minimise losses (Bansal and Singhal 1991). However, a research gap was identified as no further studies were done on biomass (feedstock) storage in India. In China, studies on the physio-chemical properties of paddy straw as a lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuel production gained attention in 2012 (Chiueh et al. 2012). However, these studies primarily focus on feedstock characteristics rather than safety and investment requirements for storage infrastructure. Thus, there remains a research gap in addressing lignocellulosic biomass storage, especially for paddy straw bales in the Indian context.

Figure 5. Research gap in addressing biomass storage in India versus the rest of the world

India’s policy framework supports the creation of biomass storage guidelines

On a positive note, India’s policy framework has offered an ecosystem to support the setting up of biomass storage guidelines. The 2024 CRM operational guidelines aim to establish 333 collection centres in Punjab, aiming to collect 1.5 million tonnes of paddy straw (MoAFW 2023). Yet, there is a lack of information on how the collection centres will be designed and located.

Previous policy examples can support setting up guidelines for biomass storage. Central Warehousing Corporations have issued storage guidelines for high value commodity such as cotton bales (BIS 2019) and for cotton and jute bales (Central Warehousing Corporation 2009). Similarly, the Bureau of Indian Standards has laid down fire safety code of practices at coal storage yards (BIS 2002). The National Dairy Development Board has also outlined quality measures in 2013 for storing cattle feed (Garg, Sherasia and Bhanderi 2013). Furthermore, warehousing policies exist, such e-Handbook on Warehousing Standards, released in 2022 (Warehousing Association of India 2022). These policies can serve as precedents for establishing guidelines for paddy straw and other biomass storage planned for biofuel production.

Key factors for biomass storage

The literature review offered insights into the key factors that affect biomass loss while building and maintaining a biomass storage depot. The factors were mapped into four categories to dive deeper into how each factor affects storage, leading to the development of the questionnaire. Figure 6 shows the key factors categorised for the study.

Figure 6. Factors identified from existing literature affecting biomass storage

Source: Authors’ compilation

The annexure provides detailed information on these factors and the corresponding research questions. The following sections detail the findings in order of the categorisations identified above from the eight companies we visited in Punjab.

In this section, we discuss the feedstock quality required for utilisation, and quality characteristics measured on the ground. The required quality has an effect on both industry players (improving utilisation efficiency) and suppliers of the residue (receiving fair compensation)

Moisture content is the primary quality parameter measured

Our on-ground findings aligned with the literature, as companies cited higher moisture content as the primary driver for speeding bale degradation, keeping this quality parameter at utmost importance. Our conversations with companies and storage depot managers detailed that permissible moisture content for industrial processing is universally below 20 per cent, which is measured using a moisture meter. However, some firms reported receiving biomass with up to 40 per cent moisture above the threshold of 15–20 per cent due to unfavourable weather conditions and misaligned baling practices during feedstock collection (Figure 5). The two companies receiving bales with low moisture content reported collecting residue on their own and establishing clear protocols for VLEs to follow. During our discussions, it was constantly stressed that the moisture content at the beginning of the process, the baling stage, should be low (15–20 per cent) to reduce the quality degradation during storage.

In order to ensure receipt of quality feedstock, three of the eight sites reported making payment cuts if moisture content exceeded 25 per cent, applying a 1 per cent reduction in price for every percentage point above the threshold—for example, bales collected at 30 per cent incurred a 5 per cent payment cut. This was set to push balers to provide feedstock at the preferred moisture content. It can be noted that the moisture level, even with payment cuts, is higher than the industry requirement, and can lead to self-heating cases in newly stacked biomass.

Figure 8. Moisture content in collected bales often exceeds the industry’s permissible limits

Source: Authors’ compilation based on storage depot site visit in November–December 2024.
Note: Average bale moisture content values, measured using a moisture meter, were self-reported by companies during interviews.

Consequently, there were other factors described as affecting feedstock quality, besides moisture content, such as bale temperature due to high moisture content. The spoiled bales also affect the gross calorific value (GCV), which is an important factor for biomass power plants and industrial boilers, leading to lower combustion efficiency. The reported difference in GCV value by these players was 300–400 between low and high moisture bales. During our visits, the degradation was visible through bale discolouration and unpleasant odours. Additionally, broken twine from mishandling bales during transport and stacking leads to unbundling, which results in losses.

This section discusses the challenges encountered during the day to day operations of a storage site, the subsequent losses that occur and the strategies employed to maintain it.

Uniform stacking methods are required to minimise feedstock loss

The biomass stacking process varies depending on the shape of bales, and who carries out the activity (VLEs, aggregators, outsourced personnel). As discussed earlier, round bales require less workforce for stacking due to mechanical handling, whereas rectangular bales require a larger workforce. All of the surveyed companies had their own stacking practices based on operational experience with differentiating measurements; for example, stack length/width and distance between stacks. Our interviews and field visits find that stack lengths ranged from 50 to 120 feet, and widths from 50 to 80 feet, depending on land layout. The reported stack gap (distance between two stacks) was between 15 to 25 feet.

Companies storing rectangular bales emphasised the importance of uniform stacking. This practice reduces the risk of bales toppling over, and minimises water retention in the stacks, preserving the quality of the stored paddy straw. However, there were challenges reported, as stacking personnel often lack motivation and understanding of storage requirements. Moreover, only verbal instructions are provided for biomass stacking, loading, and unloading, not formal training. This gap arises from temporary employment during the narrow harvesting window. As a result, inconsistencies persist in stacking practices and understanding of storage protocols.

Biomass losses occurred due to moisture ingress at biomass storage depots

A part of the feedstock cannot be used at the end of every season, as the paddy straw is prone to degradation over time. All of the respondents faced feedstock losses ranging from 15 per cent all the way up to 25 per cent per annum—with one being an outlier, only recording 1–3 per cent loss. It was also stated that usually, the bottom layer of the stack is discarded as water seeps through during the rainy season, making it unsuitable. Our internal calculations also suggest that one layer of the stack accounts for 3–5 per cent of the whole stack.

Annually, fresh bales are procured, which are required to be kept after land cleaning and preparation steps, as discussed in Section 6.1. With no standardised method of discarding bales, industries take up the initiative by themselves. Our on-ground discussions found that the industries dump the spoiled bales in a designated area, mulch them back, compost or provide them back to the industries. The growing pile of waste bales is a safety concern and a logistical issue, as they occupy valuable space that could otherwise be used for fresh feedstock. This practice creates a risk-prone situation, as the new bale stacks are placed close to discarded ones, leaving them open to possible contamination and prolonged anaerobic digestion, leading to methane emissions. Additionally, the scattered bales fall over the open space designated for vehicular movement, affecting day-to-day operations and the quality of roads.

It is important to note that the losses are not measured or recorded, but they were communicated verbally during interviews.

Five out of eight industries recorded a fire incident

During our site interactions, five facilities reported fire incidents within their operative years (all on leased land), highlighting a recurring issue. Fires in bale stacks, for instance, are intense and can burn for extended periods, spreading rapidly throughout the stack. While a gap of 15–20 feet is currently maintained between stacks to minimise the risk of fire spreading, this measure alone is insufficient to ensure comprehensive fire safety. A concern raised by respondents was the accessibility of firefighting infrastructure, particularly in remote industrial areas. Many industries reported that fire brigades take time to reach their facilities in case of a fire, further damaging the feedstock. To address this, respondents suggested that fire tenders or planned fire brigade depots should be strategically located near industrial clusters. This would reduce response time and improve the effectiveness of firefighting.

Ambiguity on feedstock and storage insurance

Bales, being a primary feedstock in specific industries, make it a valuable and necessary commodity required to be insured. However, industries often find it difficult to avail of insurance as provisions are not readily available or coupled. In the survey, six out of eight industries had insurance on the feedstock, but three of them faced challenges in renewing it when a fire incident had occurred. The survey revealed that obtaining insurance for paddy straw bales is particularly challenging, unless the storage site is located within the company’s premises. Insurers are reluctant to provide coverage for leased storage sites due to perceived higher risks of any future fire/hazard incident. Additionally, insurers have certain conditions, such as the presence of boundary wall fencing and specific fire safety measures, which necessitate higher capital expenditure for setting up leased land. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the exact documentation and requirements set by insurers, leaving companies uncertain about how to meet these standards and build compliant storage facilities.

We also accessed information on insurance for paddy biomass by contacting two insurance companies. However, we found that the requirements were unclear, and were informed that they can change on a case-by-case basis.

Figure 10. A 10-point checklist for industries planning to invest in paddy straw storage

Source: Authors’ analysis

This section provides an overview of our recommendations to policymakers in the biomass supply chain.

Relevant ministries should jointly develop paddy straw storage guidelines in consultation with industries for standardised regulation

With increasing feedstock demand, companies have demonstrated storage practices based on experience. Biomass storage guidelines are needed to serve as a reference, to aid in designing efficient and safe storage facilities. The guidelines should include optimal paddy straw collection practices, quality measures, minimum infrastructure required, stacking methods, stack covering and protection measures, fire safety measures, training needs, and monitoring standards. Given the diverse biomass availability across states, a nationallevel framework will provide a cohesive structure while allowing states to tweak guidelines according to the specific biomass found.

Once sufficient data is available on biomass storage challenges and best practices, the guidelines must be developed in consultation with relevant ministries, as multiple departments are in the ex-situ management network. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare administer schemes subsidising biomass collection machinery; their involvement is important towards formulating guidelines. The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) is the statutory body responsible for preparing warehousing guidelines in India. The Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj oversees land availability and allocation for storage sites. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should also be consulted in developing standards similar to those established for cotton bale storage. As more Indian states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh) are launching biofuel policies to spur growth in the sector, national guidelines will standardise biomass storage practices, and help minimise financial and feedstock losses. A strong guideline framework can translate into a biomass quality standard certification in the long run.

The Union and Punjab governments should provide financial assistance to set up paddy straw storage infrastructure in high feedstock demand villages/blocks

Currently, VLEs anticipate off-season demand and store paddy straw at interim depots until April or May. They sell stored paddy straw before the monsoon commences to avoid losses, as the feedstock is susceptible to degradation through moisture ingress and fire risk. Establishing dedicated interim biomass storage depots with infrastructure would mitigate these risks, while ensuring feedstock supply to industries post-kharif harvest. This is why a pilot project must be conducted in regions with high-demand feedstock requirements prior to statewide implementation. Pilot projects should undergo monitoring by the state energy development agency to understand acceptability among VLEs and ensure compliance with safety standards.

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, Government of Punjab, should also play a role in providing suitable land (location and road access) and demarcating land for storage, which is done similarly by the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) to define the catchment for present and upcoming compressed biogas plants. The Central Warehousing Corporation sets annual tariffs for storing notified commodities. However, no such structured mechanism exists for paddy straw storage. The PEDA should collaborate with the Warehousing Corporation to establish shared storage facilities to address this gap. These common depots would provide storage under a fee-based model to ensure financial returns. The state government should explore a public-private partnership (PPP) model to reduce the financial burden on the state and create local employment. These depots could also serve as a facility to store assets like CRM machinery, fertilisers, and biofertilisers from BioCNG plants.

PEDA should undertake price discovery study for paddy straw-based plants to protect industry and farmers’ concerns

With more and more companies encouraged to use paddy straw in Punjab, there will be a constantly increasing demand for feedstock of the highest quality. Rising demand and competition among paddy straw-based companies will result in feedstock price volatility, impacting the production costs and overall profitability of the firm. We recommend that PEDA undertake price discovery studies with premier institutions, in consultation with industries, to determine the optimal price range for paddy straw, for the economic viability and sustainability of these biofuel/bioenergy projects. The price discovery research should account for the availability, collection, transportation, and storage of paddy straw, as well as the impact of government policies. Companies say the cost of feedstock is just seen as the procurement price, although there is a storage cost attached as well, which is not currently taken into consideration. On the other hand, various government policy documents like CRM Operational Guidelines and Madhya Pradesh’s Biofuel Policy, mention that the price of agricultural residue will be decided with the consent of the farmers. However, the collection and supply of agricultural residue is largely unorganised, with farmers receiving limited or no payment (Kemanth, Singh and Ignatious 2024). A transparent, well-defined price discovery mechanism will help in determining the paddy straw pricing range that is feasible for the project developer, and also nudge farmers to provide feedstock surplus for a fair and remunerative price.

CPCB in consultation with the SPCBs should develop protocols for managing degraded bales

Surveyed companies reported 15–25 per cent loss of feedstock per annum due to bale quality degradation, caused due to moisture absorption during the rainy season and improper storage conditions. With no standardised method of discarding bales, companies dump the spoiled bales in a designated area, mulch them back, or compost. The growing pile of waste bales is a safety concern and a logistical issue, as they occupy valuable space that could otherwise be used for fresh feedstock. It also creates a risk-prone situation, as the new bale stacks are placed close to discarded ones, leaving them open to possible contamination and prolonged anaerobic digestion, leading to methane emissions. While the CPCB’s Environmental Guidelines for Compressed Biogas Plant (CBG)/BioCNG Plants, released in 2022, briefly mentions that rejected biodegradable input material (like spoiled bales) should be disposed of in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rule, 2016, a detailed procedure is missing (Central Pollution Control Board 2022). Similar to the technical guidelines developed for handling and disposal of industrial wastes and byproducts, the CPCB, in consultation with SPCBs and companies, should develop protocols for safely discarding degraded bales.

Insurance companies should introduce policies in consultation with industries to de-risk the biomass supply chain

The biomass supply chain has inherent risks with the handling of the feedstock. The storage of feedstock is handled by multiple large and small players, who have their own risk-taking ability. In the event of a risk-prone situation, for example, a fire incident, owners suffer substantial financial loss, as their incomes are dependent on selling feedstock to industries. The feedstock losses also extend the effect on industries dependent on a constant supply of quality feedstock, with project financing becoming tougher.

To fully utilise the potential of bioenergy production, there is a need to implement financial provisions to safeguard the feedstock. Insurance as a financial instrument has been implemented in other sectors, which is yet to be introduced to the biomass supply chain. This can be done through three steps. First, conduct a risk assessment in conjunction with industries, which will quantify the risk probability in the likelihood of biomass supply chain disruption (losses occurring at storage due to fire hazards or other accidents). Second, calculate risk pricing, which will translate the probability into cost impacts for project financing models, enabling insurers to price policies accurately. Lastly, develop tailored insurance products that protect the feedstock against any risk-prone situation, which will increase industry confidence and enable long-term financing/contracts. The addition of insurance to the biomass supply chain will help reduce the perceived risk, and stabilise longterm contracts.

Biomass-based companies should provide operational and safety training to their personnel

We estimate that development of storage infrastructure to manage the government target of 6 MMT paddy straw will spur 3,500–5,500 direct semi-skilled jobs. Although the surveyed companies had their own stacking practices based on operational experience—for example, stack length/width and distance between stacks—they emphasised the importance of uniform stacking. This practice reduces the risk of bales toppling over, and minimises water retention in the stacks, preserving the quality of the stored paddy straw. However, since biomass collection/stacking is a temporary employment during the narrow harvest window, companies report only providing verbal instructions, with no formal training for biomass stacking, loading, and unloading. We recommend that biomass-based companies should define clear operational procedures for the workforce employed in receiving, stacking, and dispatching biomass, ensuring minimisation of losses at storage depots.

Conclusion

As India progresses to becoming a leader in bioenergy production, and curb agricultural residue burning, the biomass supply chain needs to be strengthened. The practice of storing biomass requires to be done properly to limit losses avoiding methane emissions and any fire risk. The seasonal availability of the biomass stresses the importance of storage required in order to ensure there is quality feedstock all year round. To streamline the processes, innovative solutions for the supply chain need to be tailored to India’s large, diverse biomass surplus.

This study brought the on-ground findings on current practices being followed in Punjab for paddy straw bales, and the need for guidelines voiced by the industry. The growing trend of ex-situ management has increased industry participation requiring additional storage areas to operate. These storage facilities currently based on experience or peer learning and often face productivity and often monetary losses. Proper guidelines and trainings are required to store keeping collection methods, quality measurements (moisture content primarily,) stacking methods, fire safety measurements and minimum infrastructure.

This study serves as a starting note to introduce how important storage is and the minimum infrastructure required to store paddy straw bales. Additional scientific studies—on the impact of bale characteristics like density, storage infrastructure, and handling methods on biomass storage—will be necessary to fully utilise the biomass. While this study focuses on paddy straw, India has a large and diverse biomass availability, which has the potential for bioenergy. Similarly, guidelines on how other crop residues are managed and stored efficiently will help achieve national targets.