Context: According to a study, converting annual crops to perennial bioenergy crops can induce a cooling effect on the areas where they are cultivated. 

• The study was undertaken to look at the biophysical climate effects of bioenergy crops to fully assess their role in climate mitigation.

Key highlights of the study

• Global air temperature decreases by 0.03~0.08 °C, after 50 years of large-scale bio-energy crop cultivation.
• Eucalypt is superior to switchgrass in cooling the lands biophysically.

Bio Energy Crops

• Bioenergy crops are defined as any plant material used to produce bioenergy.
• These crops have the capacity to produce large volume of biomass, high energy potential, and can be grown in marginal soils.
• Switchgrass, elephant grass, poplar, willow, mesquite, etc. are some examples of bio energy crops.

Characteristics of Bioenergy Crops

• They are resistant to diseases and pests due to perennial nature.
• Bioenergy plans have improved phenotypic, architectural, biochemical and physiological characters which are desirable traits in biofuel production.
• Moreover, bioenergy crops grow faster than other crops.
• They require less biological, chemical or physical pre-treatments.

Agronomic and Metabolic Traits

• Bioenergy crops require low energy for the establishment, possess good adaptation to marginal lands and hold higher biomass.
• These plants decrease global warming and mitigate the effect of global climate change.

Physiological and Eco physiological Traits

• Bioenergy plants store thermo-chemical and solar energy in several biochemical forms.
• The physiological traits include efficient nutrient cycling, low nutrient requirement, carbon sequestration, low competition among plan groups, long canopy duration and effective light capturing.

Biochemical Composition and Caloric Content

• Bioenergy crops are a good energy source.
• Carbohydrate generation is a valuable trait in bioenergy crops.

India and Bio Energy

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set the national target is to achieve 10 GW of installed biomass power by 2022.
• MNRE provides financial incentives and subsidies for project that uses biomass and bagasse cogeneration technology.
• MNRE also plans on creating a ‘National Biomass Repository’ to ensure availability of biofuels produced from domestic feedstock.
• The National Policy on Biofuels is aimed at taking forward the indicative target of achieving 20% blending of biofuels with fossil-based fuels by 2030.