IISc-incubated startup RESCONS Solutions has successfully tested using rice husk biomass to replace up to 10% of coal in Jindal Steel and Power’s gasifiers. This technology aims to lower carbon emissions and reduce India's dependence on imported coal. The company is now exploring large-scale adoption and is also working with Adani Enterprises on extracting critical minerals.
RESCONS Solutions, a deep-tech company incubated at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, has achieved a milestone in sustainable manufacturing by successfully testing agricultural biomass as a partial replacement for coal in steel production. During trials conducted at a Jindal Steel and Power facility in Odisha, the company integrated rice husk-based biomass pellets into the gasification process. The results showed that substituting 5-10% of coal with these biomass pellets did not reduce the efficiency of the gasifiers, while still generating the necessary syngas for steel production.
Strategic Shift Toward Lower Carbon Costs
The ability to use agricultural waste in heavy industry offers a potential dual benefit for Indian companies. First, it provides a pathway to lower carbon dioxide emissions, which is a major focus for carbon-intensive sectors like steel and power. Second, by reducing the reliance on imported coal, companies may be able to manage raw material costs more effectively and save on foreign exchange. This initiative has gained international recognition, receiving support from Australia’s science agency, CSIRO.
Moving forward, RESCONS Solutions plans to scale this technology for use in rotary kiln-based industries. While the technical feasibility has been demonstrated, the company noted that achieving widespread adoption in India's industrial sector will largely depend on the development of supportive government policies and financial incentives for greener energy alternatives.
Advancing Critical Mineral Extraction
Beyond biomass, the startup is also focusing on the supply chain for critical minerals, which are essential for high-tech industries. In collaboration with Adani Enterprises, the company has completed a successful demonstration of a process to extract rare earth elements from raw ore to the metal stage. Discussions are currently underway with Adani, other industrial partners, and the Ministry of Mines to transition this project from a laboratory demonstration to a pilot-scale validation plant.
For investors and market watchers, the key monitorable will be the company's ability to secure commercial contracts and move these technologies from pilot trials to full-scale industrial implementation. As the Ministry of Mines pushes for self-reliance in critical minerals, the progress of the collaboration with Adani Enterprises, as well as the adoption rate of biomass solutions in the steel sector, will be important factors in the long-term viability of these sustainable metallurgical processes.