Recognised fondly as the “Pellet Man of India” Dr. Kikan represents a rare blend of corporate experience, entrepreneurial courage, and academic rigour. His journey – spanning over three decades across agricultural mechanisation, industrial operations, and renewable energy – offers a compelling blueprint for how India can simultaneously address air pollution, strengthen energy security, and empower rural communities.

A Journey Rooted in Purpose

Dr. Kikan’s professional foundation was built over 26 years at CNH Industrial India, where he developed deep expertise in farm machinery, manufacturing, and supply-chain management. Working closely with Indian farmers, he gained an intimate understanding of agriculture – not merely as an industry, but as the backbone of rural livelihoods and the national economy.

It was during this period that he confronted a troubling reality: every year, millions of tonnes of agricultural residue were being burnt in fields, contributing to severe air pollution while India continued its heavy dependence on conventional fuels.

“I saw this not merely as an environmental problem, but as an opportunity to convert an underutilised resource into clean energy, additional income for farmers, and sustainable employment in rural areas” Dr. Kikan reflects.

This conviction propelled him from a secure corporate career into the uncertain world of entrepreneurship. He joined Beyond Drilling & Exploration Pvt. Ltd. as CEO, where he architected an integrated “Farm to Fuel” ecosystem – a comprehensive value chain covering residue collection, aggregation, processing, pellet production, and dependable supply to thermal power plants.

Today, the company stands among India’s leading suppliers of biomass pellets, with particular strength in torrefied biomass fuels – a advanced form of biomass fuel that offers higher energy density and improved combustion characteristics.

Dr. Kikan’s journey has been further strengthened by academic pursuit. His doctoral research on the factors influencing Indian farmers’ adoption of agricultural technology – with a special focus on crop-residue collection – has enabled him to bridge field experience, business strategy, and evidence-based research.

Building an Ecosystem, Not Just a Business

When Dr. Kikan entered the biomass sector, he quickly realised that the challenge extended far beyond manufacturing pellets. The real difficulty lay in creating an entire ecosystem – from collecting crop residue directly from farmers and arranging baling, transportation, and storage, to processing it into quality biomass fuel and ensuring dependable, year-round supplies to thermal power plants.

“The sector was fragmented, seasonal, and exposed to significant operational and financial risks” he explains. “Building a reliable supply chain required technological innovation, close engagement with farmers, and sustained confidence from power producers.”

Through Beyond Drilling & Exploration Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Kikan successfully developed this integrated value chain. The company has supplied several lakh tonnes of biomass fuel to major thermal power plants, demonstrating that agricultural residue can partially replace coal on a commercially meaningful scale. This achievement has prevented substantial quantities of crop residue from being burnt in fields while generating additional income and employment across rural communities.

For Dr. Kikan, this accomplishment carries more weight than any individual award. “It has created measurable environmental, economic, and social value” he says. “It addresses multiple national priorities simultaneously – reducing stubble burning, improving air quality, supporting farmers, creating rural livelihoods, promoting indigenous technology, and strengthening India’s energy security.”

A Sector Poised for Transformation

Looking ahead, Dr. Kikan envisions India’s biomass industry entering a decisive phase of transformation. Where biomass pellets were once viewed merely as an alternative fuel used to meet regulatory requirements, he anticipates the sector evolving into an organised, technology-driven, and strategically important component of India’s renewable-energy and circular-economy landscape.

Several forces will drive this evolution. Biomass co-firing in thermal power plants is expected to expand considerably, creating sustained demand for agricultural-residue-based pellets. Simultaneously, industries such as cement, steel, chemicals, glass, and process heating will increasingly explore biomass as a substitute for fossil fuels. Advanced solutions – including torrefied pellets, biochar, biomass gasification, and carbon-credit projects – will further enhance the commercial and environmental value of crop residue.

The industry will also become more professional and transparent. Long-term procurement contracts, scientific storage systems, mechanised crop-residue collection, digital supply-chain traceability, and standardised quality testing will gradually replace seasonal and fragmented operations. Greater emphasis will be placed on fuel consistency, emissions reduction, and verifiable sustainability.

“Indigenous machinery will be equally important in making the sector scalable and globally competitive” Dr. Kikan emphasises.

A Leadership Role in the Transition

Beyond Drilling & Exploration Pvt. Ltd. aims to play a leadership role in this transformation by strengthening the complete “Farm to Fuel” ecosystem. The company’s focus extends beyond producing and supplying biomass pellets – it is actively building dependable crop-residue collection networks, expanding production capacity, developing torrefaction facilities, and ensuring reliable supplies to major energy consumers.

Through TRIO Renewable Engineering, the organisation is also supporting the sector with made-in-India balers, shredders, pellet mills, and other biomass-processing equipment. This enables entrepreneurs to participate in the industry while creating rural employment and additional income for farmers.

“Our long-term vision is to help convert agricultural residue into a nationally valuable energy resource” Dr. Kikan states. “We want to demonstrate that biomass can simultaneously reduce stubble burning, displace coal, strengthen energy security, and accelerate rural economic development – making India a global leader in sustainable biomass utilisation.”

Lessons for Aspiring Leaders

For those seeking to create meaningful impact, Dr. Kikan offers wisdom distilled from decades of experience: “Choose a purpose larger than personal success, and then pursue it with courage, consistency, and integrity. Meaningful impact is rarely created through one extraordinary decision; it is built through disciplined actions taken repeatedly, especially when circumstances are difficult.”

He speaks from experience. After 26 years in the corporate sector, his transition to entrepreneurship in an emerging industry was fraught with uncertainty. Yet his earlier experience became the foundation upon which he could build something new.

“No experience is ever wasted if we remain willing to learn and adapt” he advises.

Dr. Kikan also emphasises that the biggest opportunities are often hidden within the most persistent problems. “Crop-residue burning was widely regarded only as an environmental challenge. I chose to see the same residue as a valuable resource that could support farmers, replace a portion of coal, create rural employment, and contribute to cleaner air.”

On leadership, his perspective is grounded in service rather than status. “Leadership is not about titles or individual recognition. It is about accepting responsibility, building capable teams, and remaining accountable during both success and adversity. A true leader must stay connected to people at every level – from farmers and factory workers to customers, policymakers, and industry partners.”

He also advocates for continuous learning. Pursuing doctoral research alongside his professional responsibilities helped him combine practical experience with academic understanding, strengthening his decision-making capabilities.

Finally, he counsels patience. “Creating genuine impact takes time, and progress is seldom linear. Stay committed to your values, convert challenges into opportunities, and measure success not only by financial growth, but also by the positive difference you create for society, the environment, and future generations.”

A Vision Realised, A Mission Continuing

Dr. Vikas Kikan’s story is one of transformation – not merely of agricultural residue into fuel, but of a problem into an opportunity, a challenge into a mission, and a career into a cause. Through his leadership at Beyond Drilling & Exploration Pvt. Ltd., he has demonstrated that environmental sustainability and economic growth can advance together.

As India accelerates its renewable energy ambitions and confronts the twin challenges of air pollution and energy security, leaders like Dr. Kikan – who combine vision with execution, pragmatism with purpose – will be instrumental in shaping a cleaner, more prosperous, and more self-reliant nation.

The “Pellet Man of India” may have earned his title, but his work is far from complete. In every field cleared of stubble, in every thermal plant reducing its coal consumption, and in every rural community gaining new income and employment, his vision continues to take root – transforming India’s agricultural waste into the fuel of a sustainable future.

Dr. Vikas Kikan is the Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Drilling & Exploration Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s leading suppliers of biomass pellets and torrefied biomass fuels. He is also associated with TRIO Renewable Engineering, which manufactures made-in-India biomass-processing equipment.