UK-funded project to turn cotton waste into bio-coal

A new UK-funded clean energy project is set to begin in South Punjab, Pakistan, with the aim of converting cotton and other agricultural waste into industrial bio-coal. The project, called Safer Plus, is being led by Northumbria University’s School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics.

The facility will be located at the University of Kamalia and is being developed as part of efforts to improve energy security while addressing environmental and social challenges in the region. The project is expected to demonstrate how agricultural waste can be turned into a useful energy source instead of being burned or discarded.

The main technology used by the project is called torrefaction. This process involves heating agricultural waste to produce engineered bio-coal pellets. The pellets can be used in boilers at textile mills and brick kilns without requiring changes to existing equipment. According to the project team, the fuel could reduce costs by around 40% to 50% compared with imported coal.

The project will also make use of other outputs from the process. Surplus heat will be supplied to nearby textile dyeing workshops, while gases produced at the facility will be used to generate electricity for households that are not connected to the main power grid. The process will also produce wood vinegar, which can be sold to local farmers as an organic pesticide.

A major part of the project is its focus on creating economic opportunities for women. Agricultural waste will be collected and supplied through a women-led biomass cooperative. More than 120 nearby households are expected to provide crop residues to the facility, while at least 60% of the available training opportunities will be reserved for women. Payments will be made directly to participating women through mobile wallets.