LPG curbs fuel biogas demand

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With the Centre putting a cap on LPG cylinders, the demand for biogas plants in the state has gone up by 100 per cent.

Prior to the Centre’s recent restrictions on LPG cylinders, ANERT (Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology) had installed 3,050 biogas units across the state, thus saving the fuel of 50,000 LPG cylinders. Now, with demand for biogas plants growing, ANERT is set to install more than 6,000 units, and this would help save fuel of over 1 lakh LPG cylinders.

The bio gas plant scheme is being jointly implemented by the state and the Centre with a subsidy component of `8,000 on each unit.

ANERT director T. Valsaraj said the demand for subsidised biogas plants had gone up in the post-LPG cap period. “Biogas plant is an urban-friendly renewable energy technology. We have doubled the number of subsidised units this year because of the increase in demand. We have received about 500 applications from Alappuzha district alone this year and the response from other districts is also good,’’ said Valsaraj.

ANERT is promoting three types of biogas plant models including fixed biogas plant, movable biogas plant and floating drum biogas plant. “We are providing subsidy for biogas plants with a capacity varying between 1 and 10 cubic meters. People can opt for biogas plants depending on the biodegradable waste generated in each household. The size of the gas storage dome will vary according to the amount of waste,” Valsaraj added.

According to experts, a four-member family would require a biogas plant having a capacity of 0.5 cubic meter to 1 cubic meter (requires waste from 1 kg to 3 kg).