Red Calliandra: Indika Nature Regenerative Practices to Create Biomass

Red Calliandra with latin name Calliandra calothyrsus a fast-growing, versatile shrub native to Central and South America. Known for its striking red, feathery flowers that bloom in clusters, the plant is a popular choice for ornamental purposes due to its aesthetic appeal. It is also valued for its potential in agroforestry systems, where it can be used as a source of fodder for livestock and as a nitrogen-fixing species to improve soil fertility.

The plant’s ability to thrive in various conditions, which in tropical and subtropical regions and can grow in a variety of soil types, could reduces the need for recurring planting, as a single planting can last for 20 to 25 years, resulting in long-term cost savings. Not only this one-time planting, red calliandra’s rapid growth and high productivity allow for two harvests per year, significantly increasing supply capacity. This annual harvesting can yield 10-20 tons of forage per hectare, making red calliandra a reliable and abundant source of biomass.

One of the key reasons for choosing red calliandra is its calorific value, which ranges between 4,500 and 4,750 kcal per kg, making it a viable alternative to low-calorie coal in terms of energy content (with assumption of average energy produced by coal per kg is around 7,000 kcal). This provides an eco-friendly option for power plants and other industries seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Another advantage is the low moisture content of red calliandra, which ranges from 9-12%. This moisture level aligns with the minimum raw material specifications required by power plants, ensuring efficient combustion and energy production. Moreover, wood pellets are easier to ignite than coal, also wood pellets have almost zero carbon dioxide emissions.

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