| Biogas is primarily methane that is generated from an | | | | effective manner while at the same time generate |
| anaerobic digestion of organic wastes by | | | | heat and/or electricity. Industries that have an |
| microorganisms. It is a relatively simple and | | | | especially high potential for using anaerobic digestion |
| economical method to produce a fuel from waste. | | | | include cattle and poultry industry, sugar, breweries, |
| While technically biogas can be produced from any | | | | pulp and paper, leather, and the fruits & |
| type of organic material, most times, biogas is | | | | vegetables industry. As pointed out earlier, some of |
| produced from organic waste. This waste could | | | | these industries are already producing electricity from |
| comprise agricultural and crop waste, human waste | | | | biogas, and this trend is likely to grow further in |
| and animal waste (cow dung for instance). With a | | | | future. |
| calorific value of about 5000 KCal / m3, biogas is an | | | | Many Indian industries, in their quest for becoming |
| excellent fuel for heating purposes as well as for | | | | more environment conscious, are turning to biogas |
| generating electricity. | | | | one of their energy sources. In Sep 2009, for |
| It is estimated that India can produce power of | | | | instance, PepsiCo India, a division of PepsiCo installed |
| about 17,000 MW using biogas. This is over 10% of | | | | a biogas plant at its Pune-based Frito-Lay |
| the total electricity installed capacity in India. | | | | manufacturing unit. It's the first plant within Frito-Lay's |
| The advantages of biogas-based energy generation | | | | global operations to use biogas. Companies such as |
| are as follows: | | | | Sintex Industries have introduced novel biogas |
| 1. It is based on renewable sources | | | | digesters for the small users of this renewable |
| 2. It can provide distributed energy generation, | | | | energy resource. |
| thereby providing much-needed energy for remote | | | | Future prospects for biogas in India |
| locations and villages. | | | | With the Indian government keen on utilizing |
| 3. In many cases, it provides a beneficial way of | | | | renewable resources for energy production, it is likely |
| disposing organic waste | | | | that there will be a greater thrust and higher |
| Biogas in households and communities | | | | incentives for concepts such as biogas production |
| Biogas production has been quite dominant in India at | | | | from waste. An increasing awareness among the |
| household and community levels (especially in rural | | | | public regarding sustainable use of resources will only |
| areas) than on large scales. In villages especially, | | | | enhance the production and use of biogas. It can |
| thousands of small biogas plants use the cattle waste | | | | hence be expected that biogas will have a significant |
| (especially cow dung) and provide biogas used for | | | | growth in India at all levels of usage (household, |
| home heating and cooking. It is estimated that over | | | | municipality and industry) for both heat generation |
| 2 million such biogas plants have been installed all over | | | | and electricity production. |
| India. | | | | It is also possible to earn carbon credits for |
| Such use of biogas systems in agrarian communities | | | | biogas-based power or heat generation in India. For |
| can increase agricultural productivity. This is because | | | | instance, in Apr 2008, Andhyodaya, a |
| producing heat using biogas is more efficient than | | | | non-government agency working in the field of |
| producing it using combustion, and hence more | | | | promoting water management and non-conventional |
| agricultural and animal waste can be returned to the | | | | energy and social development distributed the first |
| land by farmers as organic fertilizer. Moreover, the | | | | installment of the biogas carbon credit to farmers in |
| slurry that is returned after methanogenesis is | | | | the state of Kerala. Andhyodaya had helped |
| superior in terms of its nutrient content and can be | | | | construct 15,000 biogas plants in the state and |
| used as a soil conditioner and plant nutrient (fertilizer). | | | | earned carbon credits. This trend is likely to grow |
| Biogas for electricity production | | | | further. |
| The use of biogas for electricity generation in India is | | | | Both the central and the state governments in India |
| more recent, but this trend is accelerating. In many | | | | have recognized the significance of biomass-based |
| cities across India, sewage treatment centers and | | | | energy in the context of development of the rural |
| organic waste treatment plants (those treating | | | | population. It is also heartening to note that steps are |
| organic municipal solid waste, for instance) already | | | | already being taken in this regard. For instance, in Feb |
| use anaerobic digesters to generate biogas and | | | | 2010, the Haryana Government has formulated a Rs. |
| electricity. Some of the industries that generate | | | | 85 crore project for setting up 50,000 family size |
| significant amounts of solid or liquid organic waste | | | | biogas plants to harness the potential of generating |
| also have installed digesters and gas engines for | | | | biogas for cooking and (remnants as) organic manure |
| electricity production. Many of these require sizable | | | | in the fields. |
| investments, but it is estimated that they have a | | | | More such investments and efforts are on the |
| good return on investment as the main feedstock | | | | horizon. |
| that they use is essentially free. | | | | In sum, India has significant potential for generating |
| Biogas in the Indian industry | | | | heat and electricity from waste in the form of biogas. |
| Use of digesters at industrial complexes (to treat the | | | | While only a portion of the potential has been |
| waste generated at the factory) is also increasing. | | | | tapped, it is likely that more investments in this |
| For the factories and businesses concerned, this is an | | | | direction could accelerate exploitation of this source in |
| excellent avenue to dispose of waste in a cost | | | | future. |