A village near Hebri in Udupi district is now home to India’s first industrial-scale biofuel and biochar carbon removal plant, a green milestone set by MASH Makes, an Indo-Danish climate tech startup.
Using agricultural residues from the cashew industry, the company has produced 2,900 metric tonnes of biochar (wet basis) and 1,050 metric tonnes of biofuel so far at its first commercial site.
Rohit Nagargoje, COO, said that the company uses a proprietary thermochemical process to convert cashew waste into renewable biofuel and biochar.
“Our Udupi site is a proof of concept for a decentralised production model, generating clean energy close to the biomass source and transporting it to key industrial hubs,” he said.
The biofuel is targeted at hard-to-abate sectors like shipping and heavy industry, while the co-produced biochar enhances soil fertility, food security, and drought resistance, and also generates high-quality carbon credits. “Our biochar is already being used by farmers across India,” he said.
The Udupi facility, run by subsidiary SPV 1 energy products, began operations with a single machine in April 2023. With three more machines added in Jan 2024, it has processed over 7,000 tonnes of biomass so far. The site currently employs 125 workers, and 65 per cent of the total employees are locals. “The plant is a clean, circular model that creates local jobs and global impact,” Rohit said.
Feedstock advantage was a key reason for choosing Udupi, given its proximity to major cashew processing hubs in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The plant currently consumes around 2,000 tonnes of cashew residue per month. MASH Makes also plans to diversify into other agricultural residues at future production sites, explained Rohit.
Ross Allen, chief impact officer, said India offers tremendous potential for scaling carbon removal technologies. “We are exploring other agricultural residues beyond cashew waste for future plants. India is one of the most interesting markets in the world for what we do,” he said.
Earlier this year, industries minister MB Patil announced that MASH Makes would invest ₹100 crore in Karnataka. “Half of that investment has already been realised, and the remaining will be completed within a year,” said Rohit.
“MASH Makes, a founding member of Carbon Removal India Alliance, is putting Udupi on the global carbon removal map. We see biochar as a bridge toward reducing chemical fertiliser use and enabling a greener agricultural transition,” said Ross.
