At a time when rising energy costs are a global concern, a homegrown solution from IIT Bombay has turned an everyday problem into a powerful opportunity by transforming fallen leaves on campus into a reliable source of cooking fuel.

The idea took root in 2014, when Prof. Sanjay Mahajani from the Department of Chemical Engineering set out to use biomass gasification to convert campus waste into energy. What followed was far from easy. Indian biomass posed a stubborn challenge. Clinker formation choked conventional systems. Early trials were difficult, with smoke-filled kitchens and reluctant users testing the limits of both the technology and the team’s resolve.

But the effort did not stop there. Years of persistence led to a breakthrough in 2016, a patented gasifier that reduced clinker formation by nearly 100 times. The momentum continued to build when Prof. Sandeep Kumar from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering joined the initiative in 2017 and developed an improved burner system.

Through the Living Lab initiative under GESH IITB, the campus itself became a dynamic testing ground where research met daily life. It included over a year of careful deployment, safety checks, and continuous engagement, where the team worked alongside canteen staff to demonstrate the system’s reliability.

The IIT Bombay staff canteen now uses 30 to 40 percent less LPG, achieves around 60 percent thermal efficiency, and maintains emissions below 20 ppm, while preventing nearly eight tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

The impact is only growing. Licensed to Infixen Energy Pvt. Ltd., the technology is being scaled to larger hostels, where it holds the potential to significantly cut costs, reduce LPG consumption by up to 90 tonnes annually, and lower carbon emissions by nearly 300 tonnes.

From fallen leaves to fuel, this journey reflects the spirit of innovation at IIT Bombay, where persistence turns challenges into breakthroughs, and research delivers solutions that truly matter.

This story garnered widespread media coverage nationwide. Here are a few highlights:

The Times of India / India Today / India TV / The Free Press Journal

Image source and for more on this story, click here: IITB LinkedIn GESH / LinkedIn GESH