WHAT IS BAMBOO?
Bamboo is classified as a grass from the plant family and belongs to the Bambusoideae subfamily. Its stems, like all grass, are hollow and are the largest grass of all others. It can also grow rapidly into a forest without much intervention. It is the fastest growing plant in the world, with different growth rates depending on its different species.
Specific species of woody bamboos can grow as tall as thirty metres in height and as wide as twenty centimetres in diameter. Some species of bamboo can even reach heights of forty metres and grow thirty centimetres in diameter.
Bamboo requires far less attention than other plants and trees to grow. The fertilizer requirement of bamboo plants is also significantly less. This makes bamboo an ideal economical choice for alternative energy.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy is that energy which can be renewed after use. It does not get exhausted after extensive use and is unlimited in nature. Renewable energy is the answer to a cleaner and greener future for our planet.
Renewable energy is non-replenish able and is extracted from natural sources. It is the process of harnessing nature’s power to provide green renewable energy in producing electricity. This electricity can be used to power a number of things such as homes, vehicles and can be used to power even generators in power plants. Using renewable energy can help to reduce energy imports to a great extent. It can also help to reduce fossil fuel use, which is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions on the planet.
Renewable energy can also play an important role in the plant’s energy security. Therefore, It can be a viable option in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well. Biofuel which uses biomass to produce energy is one of the biggest renewable green energy sources that is used in the world.
BAMBOO AS BIOENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY
What makes bamboo an ideal choice for a sustainable energy source is that it is different from other trees, which when cut from the bark, seize to grow. Whereas, a bamboo plant continuously produces new perennial culms from its underground root system year after year. In addition to this, its growth rate is very fast, up to 1 metre a day.
Another reason bamboo makes an ideal choice for bioenergy is because of its rapid growth rate. Production and harvesting of bamboo can help curb deforestation and reduce the pressure on existing forests. When compared to petroleum and other sources of energy, it produces and emits much fewer pollutants which makes it even more eco-friendly.
Utilizing bamboo as biomass for bioenergy is a good option as it is a fast-growing and extremely versatile crop. Bamboo holds significant potential to be a power generator for powering communities. This is because it renews itself rapidly and grows much faster than any other crop, which makes it sustainable as well.
One billion people still live without access to electricity, worldwide. Bamboo as biomass for biofuel has immense potential to be used for electricity generation and powering those communities. A single bamboo pole has the ability to provide enough electricity to a household to last one whole month.
THE DEMAND FOR BAMBOO IN THE GLOBAL MARKET
With the rise in deforestation, cultivation of bamboo trees is an economical and eco-friendly solution. Bamboo matures much faster when compared to other trees. Trees usually take around thirty years to grow to their full height, whereas on the other hand, bamboo requires only four years to completely mature. There is an increasing demand for bamboo trees in the global market as it is a strong plant that can be used as a replacement to wood for producing fuel. Different species of bamboo that are softer are utilized by artisans and some are even edible.
The global bamboo market is set to reach a mark of twelve billion dollars by the year 2029. India alone is sitting on raw stock of bamboo trees worth five thousand crores (Rs).
IS BAMBOO GOOD FOR LANDSCAPING?
Bamboo trees can be an ideal for landscaping owing to its dramatic heights and visual appeal. It is non-invasive and requires very little water to grow when compared to other plants. It does not require pesticides or fertilizers to grow and is an evergreen plant. It has many applications including privacy screens and also used in ornamental areas like Zen gardens.
ABOUT AAKASH
AAKASH is among those visionaries who have taken early steps towards a sustainable ecosystem. Bamboo plantation is encouraged for not just the energy requirements fulfilled by Bamboo Biomass but also for the environmental benefits.
AAKASH advocates the use of Bamboo Biomass to meet the energy requirements in a clean and renewable manner. AAKASH has identified that Bamboo can provide as much energy as the conventional source with lesser environmental impact and carbon footprint.
AAKASH works with the collaborators involved in bringing about a constant business model on all aspects of Bamboo cultivation. Farming the plantation to mitigate climate change, would enhance the investors with power generation, infrastructure or the productive business style. AAKASH involves various stakeholders aiming at forming a business based on Bamboo and Bamboo biomass, ensuring an effective ecosystem.
