Land availability and biomass production potential in India

In this paper we have assessed the availability of land and the potential f or biomass production in India to meet various demands for biomass, includi ng modern bioenergy. This is estimated by considering the various demands o n land and its suitability. The biomass production potential of energy plan tations is assessed for different agroecological zones. The total woody bio mass production is estimated to be 321 Mt, based on biomass productivity in the range 2 to 17 t/ha/yr for the different agro-ecological zones and cons idering the conservative estimate of 43 Mha land availability for biomass p roduction. A surplus of 231 Mt of biomass (after meeting the increased dema nd for fuelwood and timber by the year 2010) is estimated to be available f or energy, which has an electricity generation potential of 231 TWh. As a f irst step, only the feasible physical potential of biomass production is as sessed, along with an analysis of barriers. The potential costs and benefit s of biomass production strategy are not analysed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.