Biomethanation in India – Biogas Potential, Trends and Prospects
By Narsi Santhanam • Dec 26th, 2009 • Category: Uncategorized
Biogas is primarily methane that is generated from an anaerobic digestion of organic wastes by microorganisms. It is a relatively simple and economical method to produce a fuel from waste.
While technically biogas can be produced from any type of organic material, most times, biogas is produced from organic waste. This waste could comprise agricultural and crop waste, human waste and animal waste (cow dung for instance). With a calorific value of about 5000 KCal / m3, biogas is an excellent fuel for heating purposes as well as for generating electricity.
It is estimated that India can produce power of about 17,000 MW using biogas. This is about 10% of the total electricity installed capacity in India.
Biogas in households and communities
Biogas production has been quite dominant in India at household and community levels (especially in rural areas) than on large scales. In villages especially, thousands of small biogas plants use the cattle waste (especially cow dung) and provide biogas used for home heating and cooking. It is estimated that over 1.8 million such biogas plants have been installed all over India.
Such use of biogas systems in agrarian communities can increase agricultural productivity. This is because producing heat using biogas is more efficient than producing it using combustion, and hence more agricultural and animal waste can be returned to the land by farmers as organic fertilizer. Moreover, the slurry that is returned after methanogenesis is superior in terms of its nutrient content and can be used a soil and plant nutrient.
Biogas for electricity production
The use of biogas for electricity generation in India is more recent, but this trend is accelerating. In many cities across India, sewage treatment centers and organic waste treatment plants (those treating organic municipal solid waste, for instance) already use anaerobic digesters to generate biogas and electricity. Many of these require sizable investments, but it is estimated that they have a good return on investment as the main feedstock that they use is essentially free.
Biogas in the Indian industry
Use of digesters at industrial complexes (to treat the waste generated at the factory) is also increasing. For the factories and businesses concerned, this is an excellent avenue to dispose of waste in a cost effective manner while at the same time generate heat and/or electricity. Industries that have an especially high potential for using anaerobic digestion include catlle and poultry industry, sugar, breweries, pulp and paper, leather, and the fruits & vegetables industry.
Future prospects for biogas in India
With the Indian government keen on utilizing renewable resources for energy production, it is likely that there will be a greater thrust and higher incentives for concepts such as biogas production from waste. An increasing awareness among the public regarding sustainable use of resources will only enhance the production and use of biogas. It can hence be expected that biogas will have a significant growth in India at all levels of usage (household, municipality and industry) for both heat generation and electricity production.
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About the Author
Narasimhan (Narsi) has extensive experience in understanding renewable energy markets and strategic levers for success in these markets. His special focus has been his work on the Indian renewable energy industry. His work in the previous 15 years have spanned market and industry research, product management and international sales, and strategic consulting. see more http://www.eai.in/ref/team/ns.html
More details about the author is available here
Other posts by Narsi Santhanam
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looking for the Indian technologies for the conversion of Organic waste to Bio methanization , Conversion of Methane from Sewage ponds to CNG
looking for the Indian Technologies for conversion of Methane and ammonia to CNG and to Power generation
Conversion of Sewage Gas to CNG and to Produce Power
Dear All,
You can get Biogas Genset from Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., Concern Person is Pradyumna Agate 9881062192.
They can also give you the whole biomethane solution as well.
Regards
Kapil
Dear all
Gobar Gas/ Biogas plants in Hyderabad you may contact with following address to get more details about from this organization has done very good work in ‘Biogas Based Power Generation System in Andhra Pradesh India.
N.E.E.R.U. an environmental contentious Organization, came into existence with the main objective is to meeting the fuel needs of rural and urban communities with alternative energy systems as well as renewable energy based power generation in a captive/decentralized manner for conserve conventional energy sources.
Over the past 15 years, has been working associated with many Institutions, Gaushala/Cattle Centres, Dairy Farms and Temples of rural, semi-urban and rural areas and also turnkey contract services in Andhra Pradesh
For details you can contact to following address
M Venkat Narayana Reddy
N.E.E.R.U.
Plot No. 202,
Hasthinapuram North Ext.,
Vaishalinagar-500079
L B Nagar, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh INDIA
E-mail: contact@neeru.info
Web: http:// http://www.neeru.info
Tel: 09441284442
Please provide the details for cattle dung based power project.
[...] development for waste processing in India has historically been focused on composting and biomethanation. However, this is changing. The presence of recyclables like glass and plastic in India’s garbage [...]
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Dear all
Can you please suggest bio methanation of leather scraps