India invites proposals for small-scale biogas plants
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on March 15 announced an invitation for proposals aimed at the development of "innovative" small-scale biogas plants. The initiative seeks designs capable of producing 1 to 25 m3/day of biogas to facilitate efficient domestic, community, and village-level biogas usage.
Organisations, universities, research institutions, and industry players involved in the manufacturing or development of small biogas plants are encouraged to submit proposals in the prescribed format.
The MNRE emphasises the importance of designs that utilise construction materials or alternative building materials such as HDPE, PVC, LLDPE, and low-cost polyethylene. The proposed biogas plants should be suitable for Indian climatic conditions and capable of processing various feedstocks and organic wastes for anaerobic fermentation. These may include cattle dung, biodegradable organic biomass, waste from sanitary toilets, kitchen waste, and decentralized location garbage/waste, MNRE said.
Upon submission, MNRE will provide approval/recognition for the proposed biogas design, considering them for inclusion in its biogas programme. The MNRE will analyse, evaluate, and validate the proposals based on detailed data and laboratory/field evaluations.
India last year announced a phased mandatory blending of compressed biogas in CNG and domestic piped natural gas (PNG) segments starting the fiscal year 2025-26. This move is aimed at reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuels, promoting sustainable energy sources, and achieving net zero emission goals.