In the middle of a nationwide LPG crunch, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has found an unlikely solution—fallen leaves. The premier institute is running its canteen using a patented biomass gasification system that converts dry leaves and twigs into fuel, ensuring uninterrupted operations while significantly reducing dependence on LPG.

The breakthrough initiative, developed within the campus, is now drawing attention from institutions across India for its potential to be scaled commercially and replicated as a sustainable energy model.

From campus waste to clean fuel

The process begins with the collection of dry leaves and twigs from across the sprawling campus. These are converted into compact pellets, which are then fed into a specially designed gasifier. Researchers have even experimented with incorporating non-recyclable plastic waste into the pellets, pushing the boundaries of waste-to-energy innovation.

Led by Professor Sanjay Mahajani from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the project has been developed in collaboration with a team of researchers and entrepreneurs. Key contributors include Sujeet Deore, Prabodh Gadkari, and Sandeep Kumar.

At the heart of the system is a high-temperature gasification process. Instead of burning pellets directly—which would generate heavy smoke—the gasifier partially combusts the biomass in a controlled environment, converting it into a cleaner fuel gas. This gas is then used to generate steam, which powers the canteen kitchen.

To accommodate the system, parts of the kitchen’s conventional gas-based setup have been modified to run on steam, marking a shift toward cleaner and more efficient cooking methods.

Scaling up: hostels next in line

Encouraged by the pilot’s success, IIT Bombay is now preparing to scale up the technology. The campus currently consumes around 200 LPG cylinders daily to cater to its population of over 13,000 students and thousands of staff.

After nearly a year of continuous testing, safety audits, and operational fine-tuning, the institute is confident of expanding the system. The next phase involves installing a larger gasifier in one of the hostels—three to four times bigger than the existing unit—followed by deployment across multiple hostels.

The goal is clear: reduce LPG dependency at scale while making productive use of campus waste.

If successfully expanded, the initiative could position IIT Bombay as a model for sustainable energy adoption in large institutions—where even fallen leaves can power an entire kitchen.