Though environmental awareness across India is still far from satisfactory and stubble burning across Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh continues, but there are few new-age companies which are making more than significant inroads in fostering the growth and awareness of bioenergy in India. Sustainability is the edifice of their business model. One of them is Bangur Energy, which was founded in 2021 with a clear and compelling vision that was to create a sustainable solution for replacing coal with renewable, locally sourced energy. Within a short span of three years, they have supplied biomass worth Rs.150 crore
“The company, which has emerged as one of the important suppliers of biomass in India, is headed by its dynamic and charismatic CEO, Madhvi Bangur. According to her, the initial idea behind Bangur Energy was to tap into India’s agricultural surplus and create a circular economy by repurposing agricultural waste as a valuable fuel source.”
She informed that Bangur Energy began as a small vertical within Bangur Shree, a company primarily focused on ash-based waste management, and quickly grew into a dedicated biomass energy enterprise. “From day one, biomass has been central to our business model. Initially, our knowledge and expertise in biomass procurement and utilisation were limited, but in just three years, we have scaled significantly, and now we are working with over 65 types of agro-waste and supplying biomass for more than 35 different types of boilers,” informed Madhvi. It is also amazing that in just two years Bangur Energy has lifted over 3 lakh MT of biomass across India.
Here it deserves a mention that biomass can play a critical role in industries which are opting to move forward in the direction of sustainable production. Biomass or organic, non-fossil material from plants and animals, which is used as a raw material for the production of bioenergy, is used for steam and heat generation in boilers, furnaces and HAGs. It is an inexpensive and eco-friendly replacement to conventional fuels.
Extending Reach
Over a short span of three years, Bangur Energy has tested various forms of agro-waste from across India and has developed expertise in recommending the most suitable forms of biomass for different applications. One of their strategic decisions was to source biomass as locally as possible, with the objective to reduce logistics costs and further facilitate sustainability.
Bangur Energy presently focuses on the private sector. “We are primarily supplying to the private sector, although we are actively working to expand our footprint in the government space as well. We currently supply biomass to various states, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh,” disclosed Madhvi.
As part of its long-term strategy, Bangur Energy aims to expand its presence even further and reach more regions across India. “While we focus on the domestic market for now, we are exploring opportunities for biomass exports as demand for renewable energy grows globally,” she added further.
Facilitating Application of Biomass
Bangur Energy also offers services towards facilitating their end-users to incorporate biomass in their coal-oriented heat-generated systems. Till date they have used over 25 heat/steam generation systems which were designed for non-renewable energy to use agro-waste.
While discussing about the application of biomass for industries engaged in using nonrenewable sources of energy, Madhvi stated that “Biomass serves two key functions in the energy sector: the generation of heat and steam. The exciting part is that most coal-fired furnaces can be retrofitted to use biomass, making it an ideal solution for companies already operating non-renewable energy systems.”
Madhvi informed that at Bangur Energy they have a dedicated technical team that works closely with their clients to ensure that their systems are optimised to use biomass effectively. “Our team offers end-to-end support, from helping clients adapt their existing equipment to providing ongoing guidance on the best methods of biomass utilisation,” explained the lady with uncommon entrepreneurial vision.
From her we came to know that till now, their solutions have been well-received across various industries. “We have worked with different types of furnace feeding systems, and in each case, we have successfully helped companies’ transition to biomass with minimal disruption,” she averred.
Mitigating the Environmental Menace
However, for Madhvi, Bangur Energy is not merely an organisation to foster sustainable business; it is also a vehicle for the fruition of her passion towards social responsibility. The company has played a part in reducing the environmental impact of stubble burning in north India. In 2023, they lifted over 90,000 MT of paddy husk for energy utilisation.
“As a company committed to sustainability, Bangur Energy plays a pivotal role in addressing the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR,” asserted Madhvi. It is well-known that burning of paddy husk (parali) during the harvest season is one of the major contributors to air pollution in Delhi-NCR, and Bangur Energy is doing its bit to mitigate its impact.
“Bangur Energy has been actively involved in the collection and repurposing of paddy husk for fuel use, diverting it from open burning. Since the start of our operations, we have helped collect and process over 1,00,000 metric tonnes of paddy husk, turning it into a valuable energy resource rather than allowing it to contribute to pollution,” she disclosed with a proud smile.
She feels pride in the fact that their work has made a tangible difference in the direction of cleaner air for Delhi. Their initiative is expected to help mitigate pollution, not only in Delhi but also in its neighbouring states that are impacted by practices of stubble burning.
Leading Sustainably
Bangur Energy has achieved significant milestones within a short period of time since its inception. “As a Founder and CEO, one of the most rewarding milestones has been watching the evolution of the company — from a small team to a rapidly growing organisation with a national presence. As our vision grew, so did our team, and today we have expanded across multiple states. Building a diverse and talented team has been one of my greatest professional achievements,” elaborated Madhvi.
“In terms of business milestones, one of our most notable achievements was expanding our operations to over 12 states within the first few years. This not only helped us to build our brand but also in solidifying our position in the industry. Recognition from the industry and growing demand for biomass across India have been significant indicators of our success,” she added further while also pointing out that being invited as a keynote speaker at the National Conference of Bioenergy, where she was the youngest panellist, was a proud moment in her career and something which she would always cherish.
However, the seemingly meteoric growth of Bangur Energy obviously had its share of impediments. While talking about her operational challenges the articulate businesswoman voiced that “The journey has not been without its challenges. Operational hurdles are part of any business, but the biomass sector also faces significant misconceptions around its cost-effectiveness and efficiency when compared to traditional fuels like coal. It is a challenge we continue to address through awareness campaigns; educating both the public and private sectors on the potential of biomass as a reliable, cost-efficient, and sustainable energy source.”
Bangur Energy has been challenging the misconception that biomass is expensive and produces less heat than coal.
Her focus has always been on driving the business forward and creating value for the company’s stakeholders. “By maintaining a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, I have been able to build a company that has been making a real difference in India’s energy landscape,” she concluded with a sense of satisfaction that comes from a well executed challenging job.
Road Ahead
While talking of the roadmap and future expansion of Bangur Energy, Madhvi commented that “Looking ahead, Bangur Energy is committed to expanding on three core pillars: consistent quality, reliable availability, and competitive pricing. Over the next 3-5 years, we aim to solidify our leadership position in the renewable energy sector by scaling our operations and expanding our market presence.”
A significant part of the company’s strategy is to collaborate with smaller businesses within the industry, and creating an ecosystem that benefits all industry players. “We aim to increase awareness and engagement with more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to create a more connected and competitive market,” affirmed Madhvi.
And of course, Bangur Energy will focus on expanding its reach into newer geographical areas and industries, and continue to invest in research and development to improve the efficiency and quality of its biomass products. “One of our key objectives is to educate industries on the ease of transitioning from non-renewable to renewable energy sources and to make that transition as seamless as possible,” she disclosed.
Through their leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment, Bangur Energy envisions a future where agricultural-waste stands at the forefront, replacing coal as the cornerstone of our energy infrastructure. “Our mission is not only to meet but to surpass the energy needs of industries and communities sustainably, thus fostering a greener, cleaner and more prosperous world,” she said while signing off.
