In the absence of oxygen, biogas is a mixture of gases created by the decomposition of agricultural waste, manure, municipal trash, plant material, sewage, green waste, or food waste. Bio-compressed natural gas is the name given to this mixture after being cleaned and processed, further called bio-compressed natural gas (bio-CNG). In terms of composition and quality, it is identical to natural gas and provides a greener alternative to gasoline and diesel. For information and complete guidance on Bio CNG Plant, you must read the article on Project Report of Bio CNG Plant.
Bio-CNG has a lot of potential in India, especially as an alternative to CNG and liquefied petroleum gas. Furthermore, bio-CNG can be used in commercial (hotels, canteens, bakeries, and resorts), industrial (glass and ceramics, metal processing, cement and textiles), and automotive (public transportation and private automobiles) processes.
Bio-CNG can be utilised instead of biogas, which has a market potential of 1,281 MW and replaces CNG and LPG. Distilleries and sugar and starch manufacturers, for example, use biogas to meet roughly 75% of their energy needs, and so maybe bio-CNG users as well. Other businesses that potentially benefit from bio-CNG include milk processing, pulp and paper, and slaughterhouses.
BIO CNG stations in India
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Gujarat, India’s western state, had 636 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations as of April 2020, making it the state with the most CNG stations. According to India’s Minister of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Steel, CNG stations have increased from 947 to over 2200 in the last six years.
Consistently rising gasoline prices have prompted vehicle owners to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG). Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, has 485 CNG stations. According to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Maharashtra has 488 CNG stations as of 2021. Gail Gas and Adani Gas are two of the country’s leading CNG providers.
Process of BIO-CNG manufacturing
Desulphurisation, upgradation, and compression make Bio-CNG from biogas a convenient and straightforward procedure. Bio-CNG has a methane content of 92-98 per cent and only 2-8 per cent carbon dioxide, whereas biogas has a methane content of 55-65 per cent and 35-45 per cent carbon dioxide.
Potential of BIO-CNG
This gas has much potential and is a good substitute for CNG & LPG in India. The potential for compressed biogas production from various sources is projected to be at 62 million tonnes per year, assisting reduce reliance on crude oil imports. Bio-CNG also has a lot of potential for improving municipal Solid Waste Management and addressing the problem of dirty urban air caused by farm stubble-burning and carbon emissions. Also produced by the Bio-CNG Process is enriched organic manure, which can be utilised as fertiliser. Bio-CNG is used in blast furnaces because of its high calorific value.
Why are BIO-CNG preferable these days?
Bio-CNG contains 92 to 98 per cent methane and only 2 to 8% carbon dioxide with a calorific value of 52,000 kJ per kilogramme, 167% higher than biogas. Bio-CNG is a good fuel for automobiles and power generation because of its high methane content, calorific value, low moisture, hydrogen sulphide, and pollutants. Bio-CNG is also a more environmentally friendly fuel than biogas because of its low emission levels.
Bio-CNG also has a lot of potential to improve municipal solid waste management and address the problem of dirty city air caused by farm stubble burning and carbon emissions. In addition to enriched organic manure, the Bio-CNG process creates fertiliser. Bio-CNG is used in blast furnaces because of its high calorific value.
Challenges in Adopting New Technology of BIO-CNG and Cost of BIO-CNG plant set-up
The initial investment in a Bio-CNG system is high. For example, producing 400 kg of Bio-CNG per day takes a capital investment of Rs. 1.65 crores, while producing 5000 kg per day necessitates a capital investment of Rs.16 crores. 3 & 4
Collection, transportation, and segregation are all preliminary procedures that may impede adaptability.
It can only be implemented in areas where garbage generation is high. It will be challenging to secure waste supplies for Bio-CNG manufacturing, which will be inconsistent.
The manufacturing process necessitates the use of qualified professionals.
In India, no defined criteria for installing, operating, and maintaining these plants exist.
Global Reasons for Growth of Bio CNG Plants in India
- It is a clean fuel that aids in the reduction of air pollution.
- It doesn’t leave any residue behind.
- It does not emit any smoke.
- It does not pollute the environment.
- It is very cost-effective.
- It alleviates the strain on trees and fossil fuels. It may be delivered to homes via pipelines, as depicted.
- It has a convenient ignition temperature and is thus simple to light.
- It is less costly than conventional fuels.
- In terms of composition and qualities, it is similar to natural gas.
- More bio-CNG will be produced when more bio-mass becomes available.
- It has the potential to reduce the amount of solid waste discharged in landfills.
- In India, various schemes of subsidy have been made by the State Government and the Central Government for the Bio CNG Plant.
Bio-CNG Plant Set-up Cost in India
Bio-CNG is viewed as a greener alternative to diesel. It can be delivered via injecting fuel into the CNG grid, trucks, or cylinders from filling stations. The typical cost of constructing a Bio-CNG plant is between Rs 40 to 50 crore.
For example, The Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producer’s Union Ltd manages the Banaskantha BioCNG factory in Banaskantha, Gujarat. Waste is collected from 254 homes in 12 villages with more than five cows or buffaloes. A mobile app weighs and marks the quantity of cow manure collected from these households. Every 15 days, the beneficiary account is rewarded with Rs.1/Kg for cow dung and the milk payment.
The biogas is collected in a 1000-cubic-foot balloon. The plant produces 800 kg of BioCNG each day, cleaned before being dispensed into automobiles. The gas station can fuel around 100 vehicles (8kg per vehicle). The solid portion of the slurry is turned into vermicompost or PROM by adding rock phosphate and sold to farmers. For treatment, the liquid part is reused.
| S. No | Particulars | Details |
| 1 | Capacity of plant(CBG) | 800 Kg/ day |
| 2 | Feedstock Capacity | 40-ton |
| 3 | Feedstock | Cow dung and Potato Waste from Households |
| 4 | Cost | Rs. 8,04,00,000. (excluding land cost) · Civil Work – Rs. 4,56,50,000 · Mechanical Work- Rs 3,47,50,000 |
| 5 | O & M Cost | Rs. 38,47,479 per month |
The above example details help you understand the process and costs in the set-up of the BIO-CNG plant, and one can start their new unit with this. Different societies or banks are available in a particular state for source funding.
For example, In Haryana, there is a BIO-CNG plant that received funding from different sources:
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
- Gram Panchayat Fund
- MGNREGA
- MPLAD Fund
- State Govt. Fund