IIT Roorkee transfers biomass fuel production technology to private agriculture company

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has signed a technology transfer agreement with Jagatjit Agri India Private Limited for the biomass torrefaction technology developed at the institute.

The biomass torrefaction technology, developed by Sonal K Thengane, professor at IIT Roorkee’s renewable energy department, provides a system and a method for continuous oxidative torrefaction of biomass through an “auger-based continuous moving bed reactor using air that enhances the efficiency of a torrefaction process through the use of an annulus cooling the torrefied biomass,” as per the official statement by the institute.

On January 19, IIT Roorkee concluded a five-day ‘Winter School’ event on globalization, development, gender, and leadership topics.

KK Pant, director, IIT Roorkee, said: “This technology transfer underscores IIT Roorkee's commitment to translating innovative research into practical solutions that address critical global challenges. The system for continuous oxidative torrefaction of biomass is a testament to the ingenuity of our researchers in developing sustainable technologies.”

“This agreement marks the beginning of a journey toward leveraging innovative solutions for sustainable energy practices. The innovative system aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable practices and technological advancement that embraces delivering tools that revolutionize farming practices. This collaboration is a crucial step toward leveraging biomass as a renewable resource and addressing the challenges of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability,” a collective statement by S Dharam Singh, chairman, and Jagatjit Singh, managing director of Jagatjit Agri India Private Limited, said.

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“This technology transfer is a significant milestone in IIT Roorkee's efforts to transform cutting-edge research into impactful industrial applications. The development of this system… demonstrates our focus on sustainable and scalable innovations,” said Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC), IIT Roorkee.

Vivek Malik, coordinator of IPR Cell; Vikrant Kaushik, IPR Cell Office and M K Singhal, head, HRED, all participated in the event that witnessed the technology transfer agreement between IIT Roorkee and Jagatjit Agri India Private Limited.