The first Biogas Bottling Plant towards commercialization in India – A success story

Keeping in view the energy shortage in the country there is a need to tap biomass resources such as cattle dung, kitchen waste, agricultural waste etc for generation of biogas through the involvement of entrepreneurs and industries to set up decentralised biogas based energy infrastructure in the country, at the potential sites where biomass available is plenty.

Under technology demonstration of new RDD&D Policy of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Ministry took up a new initiative for bottling of biogas to demonstrate an Integrated Technology-package in entrepreneurial mode on medium size (200-1000 cum/day) mixed feed biogas-fertilizer plants (BGFP) for generation, purification/enrichment, bottling and piped distribution of biogas. Installation of such plants aims at meeting stationary and motive power, cooling, refrigeration and electricity needs in addition to cooking and heating requirements. There could be a huge potential of installation of medium size biogas-fertilizer plants in the country. Under the demonstration phase, the Ministry is providing a central financial assistance of 50 percent of the cost (excluding cost of land) for a limited number of such projects for implementation following an entrepreneurial mode on Built, Own and Operate (BOO) and re-imbursement basis.

The proposals are proposed to be evaluated by experts and considered by Technology Demonstration Appraisal Committee of the Ministry. Recommended projects are to be implemented, operated and owned by the concerned industries/entrepreneurs/ project developers.

The MNRE share will be released only after successful commissioning of BGFP projects, receipt of joint inspection report from committee & required statutory clearance/permissions etc.

During the year, various meetings have been organized by the MNRE and committees set up for streamlining necessary approvals from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Environment and Forests.

So, for 15 BGFP projects with aggregate capacity of 11,200 cum/day have been sanctioned in 8 States, namely Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Bihar by the MNRE for Implementation and envisaged likely to be completed during the year. The details of sanctioned projects is given below: 
S.No. State Name of the project/
organization		 Capacity of
 the plant (cum/day)
1. Gujarat P.N. Desai Aranyak Foundation, Valsad, Gujrat 1000
2. Maharashtra Ashok Biogreen Pvt. Ltd. at vill. Talwade, Tahasil Trimbak, Dist.-Nasik, Maharastra 500
3. Punjab Nectar Agro Industries, Akkanwali, Punjab 200
4. Punjab Anand Energy, Abohar, Punjab 600
5. Bihar Kamala Biogas Enterprises, Chhapra, Bihar 400
6. Karnataka M/s Terra Firma Biotechnologies Ltd. Bangalore 1000
7. Chhatisgarh R.G. Organics, Raipur, Chhatisgarh 1000
8. Rajasthan Singla Bio-Energy, Village-Siaghawali, Tehsil –Sadulsehar, Dist.–Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) 1000
9. Punjab SASK Energy, Village-Najabt Kukrian, P.O. Lubaniawali, Tehsil & Dist. – Muktsar (Punjab) 1000
10. Haryana Option Energy Pvt. Ltd, Shree Haryana Gaushala, 2nd K.M. Stone Toshsm Road, Village & Block – Hansi, Dist. Hissar (Haryana) 1000
11. Karnataka Maltose Agri Products Pvt. Ltd., Vill.- Huskur, Post -Aralumallige, Tal.-Doddaballapur, Dist.- Bangalore rural  (Karnataka) 1000
12. Maharashtra Mrs. Chhaya Vilas Kudale, At post- Malad, Tal.- Daund, Pune  (Maharashtra) 1000
13. Maharashtra Global Bioenergy, Vill.- Kherdi, Tal.- Buldhana, Dist-Buldhana (Maharahstra) 600
14. Haryana Shashi Energies, Vill. –Tohana, near Green Vally Public School, Ratiya Road, Tehsil.- Tohana, Dist.- Fatehabad (Haryana) 600
15. Maharashtra SEEPZ SEZAndheri, Mumbai (Maharashtra) 300

 A 500cum biogas generation per day capacity BGFP project for generation, purification/enrichment, bottling of biogas has sanctioned by the MNRE with Rs. 50 lakh CFA during the year 2009-10 to Ashoka Biogreen Pvt. Ltd. at vill.- Talwade, Dist. – Nasik (Maharashtra).

Accordingly, the first biogas bottling plant under Technology Demonstration of new RDD&D policy of MNRE has been commissioned on 16.03.2011 after obtaining licence for filling and storage of compressed biogas in CNG cylinders from Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO).
BGFP Project at Village – Talwade, Taluka- Trimbakeshwar, District- Nashik (Maharashtra)

The biogas generated from the plant at vill.- Talwade, Dist. – Nasik (Maharashtra) by Ashoka Biogreen Pvt. Ltd. have been purified and a purity of 98.4% methane has been achieved through test conducted by Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi (NABL). The results are given below:
 

RESULTS(As on dry basis except moisture)
S. No. Parameter Unit Test Value Protocol/ Method Followed
1. Methane (CH4) % v/v 98.4 GC-FID
2. Carbon dioxide %v/v 1.2 IS: 13270
3. Oxygen (O2) ppmv 50 Oxygen Analyzer
4. Hydrogen Sulphide (as H2S) ppmv 4.3 IS: 11255 (Pt-4)
5. Nitrogen (N2) & other gases %v/v 0.4 By difference (Remainder)
6. Moisture ppmv 44 Gravimetric, Ref. IS: 307

 

The purity of the enriched biogas is continuously monitored by online analyzing system alongwith calibration of analyzers. The purified biogas is equivalent / similar to CNG

The schematic diagram of the BGFP project is given below:

The biogas generation capacity of the plant is 500 cum per day and based on NISARARUNA (BARC) Technology. The purity of biogas is about 98% and compressed to 150-bar pressure for filling in cylinders.

The upgraded biogas is used for power generation, cooking and industrial application. The slurry of biogas plant is being based as an organic fertilizer in their nearby agro fields. The field trials have indicated 150% growth in agro-production and substantial improvements in the quality.

The salient features of BGFP project are given below:

(Figures mentioned are on per day basis)

Particulars Description Remarks
Quantity processed 12.5 MT Cow dung, agricultural waste etc.
Biogas generated 500 NM3  
Purified/Upgraded Biogas 270 NM3  
Purified Biogas used for captive power generation 81 NM3  30 %
Power generated 160 units  
Purified/Upgraded Biogas Filled in Cylinders at 150 bars 16 Cylinders of 9 kg each filled. Equivalent to Rs. 5040 of CNG or Rs. 7200 of commercial LPG
Slurry / Manure 20000 Liters/day Used as liquid fertilizer substituting chemical fertilizer worth Rs. 10000.


Secretary, MNRE visiting Bio gas Purification and Bottling plant (BGFP) at village - Talwada, taluka - Trimbakeshwar, District - Nasik (Maharashtra)