EVALUATION STUD Y OF AN ON-CAMPUS BIOGAS OPERATION PLANT AT PUNJABI UNIVERSITY, PATIALA

ABSTRACT Anaerobic digestion of solid organic waste such as biowaste, sludge, cattle manure, energy crops and other biomasses, for bio-energy production is a widely applied technology. In India, A cumulative total of 348 projects with Biogas generation capacity of 65,287 m3 and power generation capacity of 6.62 MW have been sanctioned out of which 98 biogas based power generation plants have been installed in the country with power generation capacity of 0.793 MW. A feasibility study was conducted in the context of installation of an on-campus Biogas plant aimed at identifying operational prospects and analyzing potential & scope of biogas as an energy source on the campus. The research was carried out to find out possible avenues to produce Biogas from Sewage Sludge, Agricultural wastes generated in routine on the campus and also market garbage amongst others. The objectives of the study were to (1) analyze the potential of biogas substrates, (2) find the sustainability and long term prospects of setting up of a biogas plant and (3) assess the gas production pattern in biomethanization. The establishment of a biogas station is possible only with a large investment and a reasonable answer to main questions regarding capital investment, source of funding, gestation period, operational expenses, profitability, risks etc. The EduBioGas-project was a six months project with the aim to collect data and information about the biogas process, with the Vxtkraft biogas plant in Vsters, Sweden a case study. The 200 m3 capacity plant generating energy (gas) was proposed with the 20kv-biogas generator and other possibilities were also studied. Currently 254KW is being generated in biogas based power projects in Punjab. It was our intent to implement an Organics Processing Facility on the campus of Punjabi University having the energy consumption 150-200 MWH per month. Initial capital investment of around Rs 40 lakhs, with a targeted saving of energy expenses upto Rs 50,000 per month, the Energy Payback time and Money Payback time was found to be approx 2 years, depending on the energy commercial cost in future. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is considered to be about 21 times more effective than CO2 in trapping heat, so greenhouse gas (GHG) credits or carbon credits for reducing methane emission are possible. Several companies are involved in buying and selling GHG or carbon credits, and this is an evolving business. The employment opportunities may also be considered if bottling of additional gas is taken as commercial prospect. We also conducted various interviews in the surrounding food markets and restaurants, and also of the waste disposal personnel of the campus, along with the Civil / Construction Branch of the University. We also interviewed a number of local farmers to ask if they would be interested in the Biogas benefits through receiving fertilizer for their fields. Creating an Organics Processing Facility to generate biogas will be more cost effective, cut down on landfill waste, generate a high-quality renewable fuel, and reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Furthermore, it creates learning opportunities, both theoretically & practically, for various faculties such as Environment Sciences, Engineering, Management and Biology to name a few. Overall by creating a biogas operation on campus it promises to be a win-win situation for all stakeholders.