IIT Bombay biomass gasification: Campus system converts dry leaves to cooking fuel
IIT Bombay has deployed a patented biomass gasification system that converts dry leaves into cooking fuel, and the staff canteen now reports an LPG reduction of 30%–40% . The project is led by Professor Sanjay Mahajani of the Department of Chemical Engineering and refined with Professor Sandeep Kumar from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
Work on the technology began in 2014 to tackle campus dry-leaf disposal. The team solved the clinkers problem in 2016 , producing a patentable gasifier design now used under the institute’s Living Lab testing programme.
IIT Bombay biomass gasification: Impact and numbers
The campus deployment cuts approximately eight tons of CO2 emissions each year. The system handles various types of dry biomass feedstock and is positioned as a solution for campus canteens, hostel messes, large commercial kitchens and certain industrial kitchens.
IIT Bombay projects that scaling the technology to hostel messes could deliver potential savings of up to Rs. 50 lakh per year and curb hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions when deployed across larger operations.
Key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Project initiation (dry leaf disposal focus) | 2014 |
| Clinkers problem solved; patented design achieved | 2016 |
| Article last updated | Mar 31, 2026 |
IIT Bombay biomass gasification: Scale, uses and limits
The Living Lab deployment shows practical operation and staff canteen benefits, including maintained thermal efficiency and reduced LPG dependency. IIT Bombay says the technology can process multiple dry waste types, making it suitable for campuses and commercial-scale kitchens.
Known limits and gaps: IIT Bombay has not publicly disclosed technical specifications of the gasifier unit, capital or installation costs, patent filing details, lifecycle emissions testing or a concrete timeline for hostel roll-out. Maintenance and operating cost figures, user training needs and a commercial licensing strategy are also not provided.
What the system requires
The unit needs dry leaf waste or other dry biomass feedstock and integration testing before wider use. Deployment so far followed a Living Lab approach to validate performance in a real kitchen environment.
Quick statistics
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Staff canteen LPG reduction | 30%–40% |
| Annual CO2 reduction (campus) | ~8 tons |
| Potential annual savings (hostel scale) | Up to Rs. 50 lakh |
| Research duration | About a decade |