Rice Straw Biogas Hub

Stage: Round 8

Rice, a global staple, generates significant straw byproduct, with 300 million tonnes burned annually in Asia, causing health hazards and contributing to climate change. British SME, Straw Innovations Ltd, emerged to tackle this crisis, establishing an industrial pilot plant in the Philippines with Energy Catalyst co-funding. The plant ferments rice straw into clean-burning methane gas, addressing environmental and health concerns. Now operational, the project aims to demonstrate a comprehensive system, covering 500ha of harvesting, straw removal, biogas-powered rice drying and storage, and efficient milling. The “Rice Straw Biogas Hub” offers affordable, value-adding services to farmers, tripling their incomes while safeguarding the environment and promoting sustainable agriculture.