BIOGAS PLANT

Biogas is produced as landfill gas (LFG), which is produced by the breakdown of biodegradable
waste inside a landfill due to chemical reactions and microbes, or as digested gas, produced
inside an anaerobic digester. A biogas plant is the name often given to an anaerobic digester that
treats farm wastes or energy crops. It can be produced using anaerobic digesters (air-tight tanks
with different configurations). These plants can be fed with energy crops such as maize silage
or biodegradable wastes including sewage sludge and food waste. During the process, the
microorganisms transform biomass waste into biogas (mainly methane and carbon dioxide) and
digestate. The biogas is a renewable energy that can be used for heating, electricity, and many
other operations that use a reciprocating internal combustion engine, such as GE
Jenbacher or Caterpillar gas engines.[4] Other internal combustion engines such as gas turbines
are suitable for the conversion of biogas into both electricity and heat. The digestate is the
remaining organic matter that was not transformed into biogas. It can be used as an agricultural
fertiliser.
There are two key processes: mesophilic and thermophilic digestion which is dependent on
temperature. In experimental work at University of Alaska Fairbanks, a 1000-litre digester
using psychrophiles harvested from "mud from a frozen lake in Alaska" has produced 200
300 liters of methane per day, about 20%30% of the output from digesters in warmer climates.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

(Biogas Technology Development Division)
National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP)

National Biogas and Manure Management Programme is a Central Sector Scheme, which provides for
setting up of Family Type Biogas Plants mainly for rural and semi-urban/households. A family type
biogas plant generates biogas from organic substances such as cattle dung, and other bio-degradable
materials such as biomass from farms, gardens, kitchens and night soil wastes etc. The process of
biogas generation is called anaerobic digestion (AD) and salient benefits of biogas technology are given
below(i)
It provides clean gaseous fuel for cooking and lighting.
(ii)
Digested slurry from biogas plants is used as enriched bio-manure to supplement the use of
chemical fertilizers.
(iii)
It improves sanitation in villages and semi -urban areas by linking sanitary toilets with biogas
plants.
(iv)
Biogas Plants help in reducing the causes of climate change.
2.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing the National Biogas and Manure
Management Programme (NBMMP) in all the States and UTs of the country. About 47.5 Lakh biogas
plants have already been installed in the country upto 31 st March, 2014. During the year 2014-15, a
target of setting up 1,10,000 biogas plants has been set. The Biogas plant is the best option for
households having feed material, to become self- dependent for cooking gas and highly organic
enriched bio-manure. It provides the solution to protect the households from the problems of indoor
air pollution and while saving on cost of refilling of LPG cylinders. The Ministry provides subsidy for
family type biogas plants as per the rates given below:
Subsidy for setting up of Biogas Plants under National Biogas and Manure Management Programme
S.
No.

Particulars of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) & Family Type Biogas Plants under
States / Regions and Categories
NBMMP (1 to 6 cubic metre capacity
per day )

A.

Central Subsidy Rates Applicable (In Rs.)

1.

NER States, Sikkim (except plain areas of Assam) and 15,000

including SC & ST Categories of NE Region States.

17,000

2.

Plain areas of Assam.

11,000

3.

Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, 7,000

Niligiri of Tamil Nadu, Sadar Kurseong & Kalimpong
Sub-Divisions of Darjeeling, Sunderbans (W.B.) and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

11,000

4.

Scheduled castes / Scheduled Tribes of all other 7,000

States except NE Region States (including Sikkim).

11,000

5.

All Others

9,000

1
Cubic 2- 6 Cubic Metre
Metre

10,000

5,500

B.

Turn-Key Job Fee including warranty for five years Rs.1500/- per plant for fixed dome
and quality control (in Rs. per plant).
Deenbandhu type and floating gasholder
KVIC type brick masonry models. Turn
Key Job Fee also provided for biogas
plants with prefabricated material
involving part construction work either
for digester or dome. No fee is provided
for
completely
prefabricated
/
manufactured plants such as Bag type
plants with rubberized material or
plants made of HDPE / PVC / fabric
materials, as and when approved.

C.

Additional subsidy (CFA) for toilet linked Biogas 1,200/Plants (in Rs. per plant).

The programme is being implemented by the State Nodal Departments/State Nodal Agencies and Khadi
and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Biogas Development and Training Centers (BDTCs). The
interested potential beneficiaries may contact to the concerned programme implementing Agencies of
the States.
PUNJAB

Director, (PEDA)Punjab Energy Development Agency, Mob.:

09876693975
Solar Passive Complex,Plot No. 1&2, Sector 33-D, Ph.0172-2667005/
Chandigarh (U.T.) - 160034
2663352
Mob.09463190070

Case study

Biogas Generation, Purification And Bottling Development In India A case study Introduction
Biomass resources such as cattle dung, agriculture wastes and other organic wastes have been
one of the main energy sources for the mankind since the dawn of civilization. There is a vast
scope to convert these energy sources into biogas. Biogas production is a clean low carbon
technology for efficient management and conversion of fermentable organic wastes into clean
cheap & versatile fuel and bio/organic manure. It has the potential for leveraging sustainable
livelihood development as well as tackling local and global land, air and water pollution. Biogas
obtained by anaerobic digestion of cattle dung and other loose & leafy organic matters/ biomass
wastes can be used as an energy source for various applications namely, cooking, heating, space
cooling/ refrigeration, electricity generation and gaseous fuel for vehicular application. Based on
the availability of cattle dung alone from about 304 million cattle, there exists an estimated
potential of about 18,240 million cubic meter of biogas generation annually. India is

implementing one of the Worlds largest programme in renewable energy. The country ranks
second in biogas utilization. Biogas can be generated and supplied round the clock in contrast to
solar and wind, which are intermittent in nature. Biogas plants provide three-in-one solution of
gaseous fuel generation, organic manure production and wet biomass waste
disposal/management. Biogas is a product of bio-methanation process when fermentable organic
materials such as cattle dung, kitchens waste, poultry droppings, night soil wastes, agricultural
wastes etc. are subjected to anaerobic digestion in the presence of methanogenic bacteria. This
process is better as the digested slurry from biogas plants is available for its utilization as
bio/organic manure in agriculture, horticulture and pisciculture as a substitute/supplement to
chemical fertilizers. In contrast, when biomass is subjected to combustion/gasification process, it
ends up in the destruction of biomass and only ash is left after extraction of energy. Therefore,
the bio-methanation process of converting biomass into gaseous fuel is superior and a sustainable
process that needs to be preferred for such biomass materials that can be processed in biogas
plants. Biogas Composition and Properties Biogas comprises of 60-65% methane, 35-40%
carbon dioxide, 0.5-1.0% hydrogen sulphide, rests of water vapors etc. Biogas is non-toxic, color
less and flammable gas. It has an ignition temperature of 650 - 7500C. Its density is 1.214kg/ m3
(assuming about 60% Methane and 40% CO2). Its calorific value is 20 MJ/m3 (or 4700 kcal.). It
is almost 20% lighter than air. Biogas, like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cannot be converted
into liquid state under normal temperature and pressure. It liquefies at a pressure of about 47.4
Kg/cm2 at a critical temperature of -82.10 c. Removing carbon dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide,
moisture and compressing it into cylinders makes it easily usable for transport applications &
also for stationary applications. Already CNG technology has become easily available and
therefore, bio-methane (purified biogas) which is nearly same as CNG, can be used for all
applications for which CNG are used. Purified biogas (bio-methane) has a high calorific value in
comparison to raw biogas. Technology Demonstration on Biogas Bottling under RDD&D First
time in the country during the year 2008-09, a new initiative was taken for technology
demonstration on biogas bottling projects in entrepreneurial mode, for installation of medium
size mixed feed biogas plants for generation, purification and bottling of biogas under RDD&D
policy of MNRE after R&D. Installation of such plants aims at production of CNG quality of
Compressed Biogas (CBG) to be used as vehicular fuel in addition to meeting stationary &
motive power, electricity generation, 2 thermal application etc. needs in a decentralized manner
through establishment of a sustainable business model in this sector. There is a huge potential for
installation of such plants in various areas. Under the demonstration phase, the Ministry has
sanctioned a central financial assistance for a limited number of such projects for implementation
following an entrepreneurial mode in different states namely Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. So far, 11
numbers of biogas bottling projects of various capacities and technologies have been
commissioned in the country after obtaining required licenses for filling and storage of
compressed biogas in CNG cylinders from Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO),
State Pollution Control Board (PCB) etc. IIT, Delhi is assigned for technical monitoring &

handholding of the consultants/promoters and preparation of documentation on different types of

technology which may emerge out of these projects.
The purity of biogas is more than 90% Methane and this has being corroborated through tests
conducted by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)
and compressed to 150 bar pressure for filling in cylinders. The purified biogas is equivalent
/similar to CNG. The purified biogas is filled in CNG cylinder and supplied to mid-day meal
scheme, mess, Hotel, industries etc. for various purposes such as cooking & heating etc..
Calorific value of purified biogas is equivalent / similar to CNG. As a matter of fact, the biogas
bottling plants are one of the most potent tools for mitigating climatic change by preventing
black carbon emission from biomass chulha since biogas is used as a cooking fuel and methane
emissions from untreated cattle dung and biomass wastes are also avoided. The purified biogas
can be bottled in CNG cylinders and wherever CNG is currently used, biogas bottling can be
used as an alternative
The slurry which comes out of the biogas plant is directly or after drying used as bio/organic
manure for improving soil-fertility and reducing use of chemical fertilizers. It is also nonpollutant because it is free from weed-seeds, foul smell and pathogens. The slurry is rich in main
nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Sodium (NPK) alongwith micronutrients - Iron & Zinc
etc. As such there is no pollution from biogas plant. The slurry/manure of biogas plant is being
sold to the farmers and used in liquid/solid form by them in agricultural crops. The field trials
have indicated the excellent growth in agro-production and substantial improvements in the
quality.
Conclusion As a matter of fact, the biogas-bottling plants are one of the most potent tools for
mitigating climatic change by preventing black carbon emission from biomass chulha since
biogas is used as a cooking fuel and methane emissions from untreated cattle dung and biomass
wastes are also avoided. The purified biogas can be bottled in CNG cylinders and wherever CNG
is currently used, compressed biogas (CBG) can be used as an alternative. There is a vast
potential for the production of biogas in the country. In addition to the energy production, biogas
plants also provide bio-manure and are helpful in dealing with the problems of waste
management, providing clean environment and mitigating pollution in urban, industrial and rural
areas. Biogas is also a prominent alternative to petroleum fuel like LPG, CNG and diesel.

National Biogas and Manure Management Programme

Introduction : Biogas is a clean and efficient fuel. Biogas is produced from Cattle Dung, Human
Excreta and other organic matter in Biogas plant through a process called 'Digestion'. Biogas
contains 55% to 60% methane which is inflammable. It also contains 30% to 35% carbon
dioxide and traces of Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Water. Bio slurry which is bye product has
manurial value than farm yard manure

Objectives :
To provide fuel for cooking purposes and organic manure to rural households through
family type biogas plants
To mitigate drudgery of rural women ,reduce pressure on forests and accentuate social
benefits
To improve sanitation in villages by linking sanitary toilets with biogas plants
Potential and Achievement A cumulative total of 1.16 Lakh family type biogas plants have
been set up in the state of Punjab upto 31.3.2011 against estimated potential of 4.5 lakh plants.
Approved designs of family type biogas plants
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

(e)
(f)

KVIC Floating Drum Type Biogas Plants having digester

made of bricks or stones.
KVIC Type Biogas Plants with Ferro cement digester
KVIC Type Biogas Plants with Fibre Glass Reinforced
Plastic (FRP) Gas holder
Deenbandhu Model
(i) Brick masonry (ii) In ferrocement with in-situ
technique
Pre-fabricated RCC fixed dome model
'Flexi' model Bag digester type plant made of rubberised
nylon fabric manufactured by Swastik Rubber Products
Ltd., Pune.

1 to 10 cubic metre
1 to 10 cubic metre
1 to 10 cubic metre
1 to 6 cubic metre

2 & 3 cubic metre

1 to 6 cubic metre

Size of plants, requirement of cattle dung and estimated cost

Size of plant
1 cubic metres
2 cubic metres
3 cubic metres
4 cubic metres
6 cubic metres
Applications

Quantity of cattle dung

required daily
25 kg
50 kg
75 kg
100 kg
150 kg

No. of cattle heads

required
2-3
4-6
7-9
10-12
14-16

Estimated cost*
Rs.7,000/Rs.9,000/Rs.10,500/Rs.12,500/Rs. 15,000/-

Cooking
:
Biogas can be used in a specially designed burner for cooking. A biogas plant of 2 cum.
capacity is sufficient for providing cooking fuel to a family of 4 members.
Lighting :
Gas lamps can be fueled by biogas. The requirement of gas for powering a 100 candle lamp
(60 W) is 0.13 cum. per hour.
Power Generation :
Biogas can be used to operate a dual fuel engine and can replace upto 80% of diesel.
Implementation Strategy :
This programme is being implemented with the active participation of Turnkey workers who
have been trained by PAU, Ludhiana. The turnkey workers arrange a trained mason for
installation of Biogas plants, helps the beneficiary for procuring good quality material which
includes burners and other fittings required for the biogas plants. The turnkey worker got filled
the application form of the beneficiary for informing the concerned field officer for starting the
installation of Biogas plant. Then the beneficiary got installed the plant through trained mason
under the supervision of turnkey worker and field officer of PEDA. After completion /
commissioning of the biogas plant the application is submitted to Head Quarter of PEDA for
release of permissible subsidy to beneficiaries and SEW charges to the concerned SEW. After
sample checking from H.Q. level, the subsidy and SEW charges are released. The turnkey
worker stands guaranteed for three years for successful operation of the biogasplant.

Pattern of Central Financial Assistance for 2011-12

(i) Central Subsidy :

Capacity of the Biogas plant
(Cum)
1
2 to 6

General (Rs.)

Additional for attaching toilet (Rs.)

4000
8000

1000

(ii) Turn-Key Job Fee : : The amount of turn-key job fee is Rs. 1500/- per plant with
guarantee of five years from the date of installation.
(iii) Repair charges for old non-functional plants: Financial support is given up to a maximum
of 50 per cent of the rate of Central subsidy as applicable for a given category of beneficiary
and area for repair of plants, which have been
LARGE CAPACITY BIOGAS PLANTS
(i) DESIGN OF LARGE CAPACITY BIOGAS PLANTS
A large capacity biogas plant (New Modified PAU Janta Model Biogas Plant) has been
developed by Punjab Agricultural University to cater the needs of dairy farmers. This,
essentially, is a "Janta" design but of higher capacity. The gas-holder is hemispherical in shape
and is structurally safe & crack-resistant. The construction of this type of plant is easy and is
not very different from the method for the Deenbandhu Biogas Plant. The details of New
Modified PAU Janta Model Biogas Plant are shown in figure- I and the dimensions of different
sized biogas plants are shown in table 1. The capacity wise detail of different capacity of
Biogas Plants for power generation is detailed as per table 2.
Large Capacity are Fixed Dome Type Biogas Plants