TERI revives biomass gasifier for clean & affordable community cooking

Amid rising LPG prices and periodic supply disruptions affecting clean cooking access, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has revived its indigenous biomass gasifier technology, positioning it as a reliable and cost-effective alternative for institutional and community kitchens.

Originally developed in 1995, the biomass gasifier converts agricultural residues and wood chips into a clean combustible gas through thermo-chemical processes. The upgraded system is now being promoted for large-scale cooking applications, reducing dependence on fossil fuels such as LPG.

TERI has recently installed a 10 kWe (40 kW thermal) biomass gasifier at its TERI Retreat campus, where it is being used to prepare meals for nearly 300 people. The system, with an installation cost of around ₹1.2 lakh, consumes approximately 10 kg of biomass per hour at a fuel cost of about ₹5 per kg. The live demonstration highlights the technology’s ability to deliver consistent, scalable, and affordable energy for institutional kitchens.

Over the past three decades, TERI has deployed biomass gasifier systems across multiple sectors, including community kitchens, agro-processing, small industries, and bakeries. These systems have demonstrated fuel cost savings of 40–50%, while also reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency.

Experts underline the growing relevance of such solutions as India continues to rely heavily on imported LPG. Biomass gasification not only lowers cooking costs but also utilises locally available agricultural residues, ensuring cleaner combustion compared to traditional biomass use.

Nagendra Kumar, Associate Director, TERI, shares, “Every unit of biogas holds a solution, delivering clean, green energy, enriching soils and the environment, and advancing a circular economy for a sustainable future.”

Dr Arunendra Kumar Tiwari, Fellow, TERI, highlights, “TERI’s biomass gasifier technology demonstrates a clean and affordable solution for community cooking using locally available biomass. At a time when large-scale adoption of electric induction cooking can increase demand on the power grid, biomass gasification offers a reliable clean alternative that reduces LPG dependence and avoids additional grid stress. Such decentralized and cost-effective solutions can also be highly relevant for many International Solar Alliance member countries seeking sustainable energy options for community kitchens and rural institutions.”