Groundnut husk—also known as peanut shell—and the dried groundnut stalk are dependable, high-performing agro-residues that convert seamlessly into industrial heat. When densified into briquettes or pellets, they can replace coal and furnace oil in boilers, thermic fluid heaters (TFHs), hot-air generators, and gasifiers. At Bhavishya Biofuels, we source, process, and deliver consistent groundnut husk biomass so Indian industries can reduce fuel costs, stabilize steam generation, and cut emissions with a practical, supply-secure alternative.
What Exactly Is Groundnut Husk and Stalk?
Groundnut husk (peanut shell) is the hard outer shell removed during decortication. It is lignocellulosic, energy-dense, and naturally suited to combustion. Groundnut stalk is the dried stem remaining after harvest. Both can be used as fuel, with shell typically preferred for its higher bulk energy and more predictable ash behavior. Densification—via 90 mm biomass briquettes or 6–8 mm biomass pellets—improves handling, storage, and boiler feeding, while enabling long-distance logistics and year-round availability.
Why Switch to Groundnut Shell Fuel?
- High calorific value (GCV): Groundnut shell is widely known for strong energy content, making it a reliable replacement for low-grade coal. Prospective buyers often search for terms like “calorific value of groundnut shell” and “GCV groundnut shell”—and for good reason: it delivers efficient combustion when properly dried.
- Lower ash vs. many solid fossils: Compared to typical Indian coal, groundnut shell briquettes and pellets generally generate much less ash, reducing handling, disposal, and downtime.
- Fast ignition and steady flame: The natural lignin helps the briquette or pellet bind, resulting in consistent burning and stable heat release on grates and in fluidized beds.
- Cleaner stack profile: With very low inherent sulfur and negligible heavy metals, agro waste fuel simplifies compliance and helps meet buyer sustainability requirements.
- Predictable quality: Densified fuels allow tight control over size, moisture, durability, fines, and ash—exactly what boiler houses need for repeatable performance.
- Cost and availability: India’s strong groundnut belts support a robust supply chain. Aggregation and densification turn harvest-season residues into year-round industrial biomass fuel.
Fuel Formats We Supply
1) Groundnut Shell (Loose/Crushed)
Ideal when you have on-site handling capacity and want the lowest rupees per delivered kilocalorie. Loose shell works on fixed grates, with blending flexibility across other residues (e.g., cotton stalk). Key is controlled storage to keep moisture down and flow consistent.
2) 90 mm Groundnut Shell Briquettes
Our most popular format for steam boilers, TFHs, hot-air generators, and kilns. High bulk density streamlines loading and reduces dust losses. Standardized size helps operators fine-tune feeder settings and achieve smooth pressure curves.
3) 6–8 mm Peanut Shell Pellets
Best for automated feeding where sizing and flowability matter: screw feeders, pneumatic lines, and co-firing setups. Pellets offer excellent controllability, uniform moisture, and easy silo storage—all drivers of consistent combustion.
Technical & Quality Parameters We Focus On
While exact numbers vary by season and origin, our QC program targets the parameters your engineers actually monitor:
- Moisture (as-received): Low moisture fuels ignite faster, deliver higher net heat, and stabilize steam generation. We focus on proper drying, covered logistics, and first-in-first-out storage.
- Ash content & behavior: Groundnut shell typically produces low ash; we also optimize blends to improve ash fusion characteristics for grate and FBC systems.
- GCV (calorific value): Every truckload can be supported with a lab sheet on request. Buyers often search “groundnut shell GCV kcal/kg”; our process is designed to keep values consistently high for industrial use.
- Sizing & durability: Briquettes at 90 mm (length optimized for your feeder) and pellets at 6–8 mm (low fines, high durability) to minimize jamming and dusting.
- Fines & bulk density: Lower fines improve housekeeping and filter performance; higher bulk density reduces freight cost per useful energy.
Where Groundnut Husk Biomass Works Best
Because of its balance of energy, ash, and handling characteristics, groundnut shell biomass fits a wide range of industries:
- Textiles & dyeing – package boilers and thermic fluid heaters looking to move away from coal and FO/LDO.
- Food & beverage – namkeen, spices, dal mills, bakeries, distilleries, and dairy plants needing clean, reliable steam or hot air.
- Pulp, paper & board – steady heat loads with predictable ash handling.
- Chemicals & pharma – controlled combustion for process heating and utility boilers.
- Bricks & ceramics – longer burn cycles and high bulk energy make charging efficient.
- Power & co-firing – pellets blend well with other biomass streams for stable co-combustion.
Combustion, Handling & Storage Tips (Engineer-Approved)
- Fuel prep: Keep fuel covered and off the floor. Use roofed storage and a simple FIFO plan to keep moisture steady.
- Feeding: Match feeder speed to the densified fuel’s flow. For pellets, maintain clean, dry screws and check for bridging only during monsoon spells.
- Air management: Start with settings similar to rice-husk or mixed-agro firing, then trim with stack O2/CO readings to minimize unburnt carbon.
- Bed temperatures (FBC): Run within OEM guidance to avoid sintering. Many users improve bed life by co-pelleting with woody residues for better ash fusion behavior.
- Particulates: Multicyclones or bag filters handle the lower-ash load well; maintain tight ducting and timely hopper evacuation.
- Safety: Use spark arrestors where necessary; enforce no-smoking zones around storage. Train teams on safe handling of densified biomass.
Compliance, Standards & Documentation
We align to recognized solid biofuel parameters (moisture, ash, size, durability, fines) to give procurement and QC teams a clear, spec-driven purchase. Each dispatch can be accompanied by a pre-shipment lab sheet. Need vendor approvals? We provide product data sheets and MSDS, plus sample lots for in-boiler trials.
Procurement, Pricing & Logistics
- Supply models: Spot buys, monthly rate contracts, and annual agreements depending on your demand profile.
- Packaging & transport: Full-truck loads with tarpaulin cover; jumbo bags available on request for special handling zones.
- Pan-India supply: Aggregated sourcing across major peanut belts enables dependable year-round deliveries.
- Quality assurance: Truck-wise batch tagging. Optional third-party testing available for moisture, ash, and GCV.
SEO-Friendly Questions (For Buyers & Boiler Teams)
What is the calorific value of groundnut shell?
Groundnut shell is recognized for a high GCV among agro-residues, which helps it serve as a practical coal substitute. Ask us for batch-wise lab sheets with your consignment. Many buyers search “calorific value of groundnut shell” and “GCV groundnut shell”—we include those metrics in our QA documentation.
Is groundnut husk suitable for steam boilers and TFHs?
Yes. In densified form, groundnut shell briquettes and peanut shell pellets deliver stable, controllable combustion for package boilers, thermic fluid heaters, and hot-air generators with minimal changes to existing equipment.
How does ash from groundnut shell compare?
It is generally lower than many solid fossil fuels, easing housekeeping and disposal. We can also suggest blends to optimize ash characteristics in FBC systems.
Pellets or briquettes—which should I choose?
Pellets (6–8 mm) are best for automated feeders and co-firing streams, offering consistent size and low moisture. Briquettes (90 mm) work brilliantly with manual or semi-auto feeding and offer excellent bulk energy per truckload.
Can I co-fire groundnut husk with other biomass?
Absolutely. Blending with wood or other crop residues can tune flame stability, ash behavior, and feeder performance. We can recommend blend ratios after reviewing your boiler type and steam demand.
What about availability and price stability?
We aggregate across multiple origins, lock in seasonal volumes, and densify for storage and long-haul movement. That reduces volatility and keeps groundnut shell briquettes price competitive on a ₹/kcal basis.
Purchase Specification Template (Copy-Ready)
- Fuel Type: Groundnut husk (peanut shell) biomass; option to include groundnut stalk based on boiler trials
- Form: 90 mm briquettes / 6–8 mm pellets (specify one)
- Moisture (as-received): ≤ 10% (target low, season-dependent)
- Ash: ≤ 7% for pellets; ≤ 8% for briquettes (typical target ranges)
- GCV (as-received): High GCV suitable for industrial boilers; lab sheet with each lot
- Fines: Pellets ≤ 1% below 3.15 mm; Briquettes minimal fines at dispatch
- Dimensions: Briquettes 90 mm diameter; Pellets 6–8 mm diameter
- Packaging: Bulk FTL with tarpaulin cover / jumbo bags on request
- Testing: Pre-dispatch moisture, ash, and GCV test report; optional third-party inspection
- Delivery: Pan-India, lead times as per contract
On-Site Optimization Support
Switching fuels is easiest when you have a partner who has done it many times. Our technical team can review your boiler drawings, feeder type (grate, stoker, AFBC), steam load profile, and space for storage to recommend:
- Fuel format (briquettes vs pellets) and optimal size
- Start-up and turndown air settings for smooth steam curves
- Blend strategies to minimize clinker formation
- Filter and ducting checks for lower dust load
- Safety SOPs for storage and feeding
Sustainability & Circular Economy Benefits
Choosing groundnut husk biomass converts an agricultural by-product into productive energy, reducing open-field burning and associated PM emissions. For brands pursuing decarbonization and audit-ready supply chains, shifting from coal to biomass briquettes for boilers demonstrates measurable progress on Scope-1 emissions while creating rural value and farmer income around the groundnut belts.
Why Bhavishya Biofuels
- Consistent specs: Tight process control from sourcing to densification means predictable combustion, day after day.
- Scale & reach: Aggregated supply across major groundnut regions; dependable biomass fuel suppliers India network.
- Documentation: Product data sheets, MSDS, and truck-wise QA reports that your auditors expect.
- Responsive service: Trials, tuning, and after-sales support for your boiler and TFH teams.
Helpful Search Phrases We Naturally Cover
To help your buyers find this page, we’ve woven in high-intent phrases such as: groundnut husk biomass, groundnut shell briquettes, peanut shell pellets, groundnut husk fuel suppliers India, biomass briquettes for boilers, calorific value of groundnut shell, GCV groundnut shell, 90mm biomass briquettes, 6mm biomass pellets, agro waste fuel, industrial biomass fuel India, groundnut shell price, biomass for textile dyeing, biomass fuel for thermic fluid heater. This keeps the copy reader-friendly while aligning with how real users search.
Call to Action
Ready to trial groundnut husk fuel? Share your boiler type, steam demand, and preferred format (90 mm briquettes or 6–8 mm pellets). Bhavishya Biofuels will recommend the right spec, schedule a pilot lot, and ship quickly—so you can compare heat rate, ash, and overall cost against your current fuel.