ORSL and IIT Roorkee Join Hands for Biomass and Biochar Research

31 Oct 2025 CW Team

The collaboration combines the industrial expertise of ORSL with the research excellence of IIT Roorkee’s Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy (HRED) to accelerate innovation in renewable energy, circular economy models, and carbon-neutral technologies.

Under the MoU, ORSL and IIT Roorkee will jointly focus on:

Biomass Research Applications: Characterisation and pretreatment of biomass, development of biofuels and biochemical conversion processes, and evaluation of agricultural residues for industrial use.

Biochar and Activated Carbon Development: Production, characterisation, and application of biochar for soil enhancement, carbon sequestration, water purification, and heavy metal adsorption.

Torrefaction of Biomass and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Optimisation of torrefaction processes and integration with pyrolysis and gasification technologies to improve energy recovery.

Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building: Joint training programmes, internships, research projects, and the creation of an academia–industry ecosystem to foster innovation and skill development in renewable energy and environmental technologies.

Sarang Bhand, Managing Director, Organic Recycling Systems, said, “This partnership with IIT Roorkee marks a significant milestone in ORSL’s R&D journey. Together, we aim to accelerate technology development in biomass and MSW valorisation with a strong focus on biochar and torrefaction. This collaboration will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s pathway toward clean energy and carbon neutrality.”

Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee, stated, “Our partnership with ORSL reflects IIT Roorkee’s commitment to translating advanced research into impactful industrial applications. This collaboration will pave the way for innovative, scalable solutions in biomass processing and environmental management.”

Prof (Dr) Sonal K. Thengane, Associate Professor, Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, IIT Roorkee, added, “We are delighted to collaborate with ORSL on the torrefaction of MSW and biomass. Together, we hope to develop a replicable model that can be implemented nationally to drive sustainable waste-to-energy practices.”

Organic Recycling Systems (ORSL), a leading Indian clean-tech company pioneering sustainable waste valorisation and circular economy solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) to collaborate on cutting-edge research in biomass valorisation, biochar development, and advanced environmental technologies.The collaboration combines the industrial expertise of ORSL with the research excellence of IIT Roorkee’s Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy (HRED) to accelerate innovation in renewable energy, circular economy models, and carbon-neutral technologies.Under the MoU, ORSL and IIT Roorkee will jointly focus on:Biomass Research Applications: Characterisation and pretreatment of biomass, development of biofuels and biochemical conversion processes, and evaluation of agricultural residues for industrial use.Biochar and Activated Carbon Development: Production, characterisation, and application of biochar for soil enhancement, carbon sequestration, water purification, and heavy metal adsorption.Torrefaction of Biomass and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Optimisation of torrefaction processes and integration with pyrolysis and gasification technologies to improve energy recovery.Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building: Joint training programmes, internships, research projects, and the creation of an academia–industry ecosystem to foster innovation and skill development in renewable energy and environmental technologies.Sarang Bhand, Managing Director, Organic Recycling Systems, said, “This partnership with IIT Roorkee marks a significant milestone in ORSL’s R&D journey. Together, we aim to accelerate technology development in biomass and MSW valorisation with a strong focus on biochar and torrefaction. This collaboration will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s pathway toward clean energy and carbon neutrality.”Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee, stated, “Our partnership with ORSL reflects IIT Roorkee’s commitment to translating advanced research into impactful industrial applications. This collaboration will pave the way for innovative, scalable solutions in biomass processing and environmental management.”Prof (Dr) Sonal K. Thengane, Associate Professor, Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, IIT Roorkee, added, “We are delighted to collaborate with ORSL on the torrefaction of MSW and biomass. Together, we hope to develop a replicable model that can be implemented nationally to drive sustainable waste-to-energy practices.”

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