TERI Revives Biomass Gasifier Technology to Offer Affordable Alternative to LPG for Large-Scale Cooking

At a time when rising LPG costs and supply disruptions are putting pressure on clean cooking access, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has revived and demonstrated its indigenous biomass gasifier technology as a reliable, cost-effective alternative for large-scale cooking.

Originally developed by TERI 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 deployed for institutional and community cooking applications, reducing dependence on fossil fuels such as LPG.

TERI has installed a 10 kW thermal biomass gasifier at its TERI Retreat campus, where it is currently being used to prepare meals for nearly 300 people every day. The system, with a capacity of 10 kW thermal, was set up at an installation cost of approximately INR 1.2 lakh. It consumes around 10 kg of biomass per hour, with fuel priced at about INR 5 per kg. This live demonstration highlights the potential of biomass-based cooking solutions to provide consistent, scalable and cost-effective energy for institutional kitchens.

Over the past three decades, TERI has implemented biomass gasifier systems across India’s wide range of sectors, including institutional and community kitchens, food and agro-processing, sericulture and small-scale industries, as well as bakeries and other thermal applications. These systems have consistently delivered significant benefits, including fuel cost savings of 40–50 percent, while also helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve overall operational efficiency.

Nagendra Kumar, Associate Director, TERI, said, “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.”

With India importing a significant portion of its LPG requirements, recent global supply disruptions have underscored the importance of diversifying cooking energy sources with locally available alternatives. Biomass gasification emerges as a viable solution, offering reduced dependence on imported fuels, lower cooking costs, and cleaner combustion compared to traditional biomass. Additionally, it enables the effective utilisation of locally available agricultural residues, making it both economically and environmentally sustainable.