Biogas based distributor based Electricity Generation Program

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(Bio-Energy Technology
Development Group)                                                                                                  *****                                                                                                     Scheme:            Biogas
based Distributed / Grid Power Generation Programme         http://www.mnre.gov.in/related-links/offgrid/biogas-2/

1.1     Introduction 

Biogas technology
provides an alternative source of energy mainly from organic wastes. It is
produced when bacteria degrade organic matter in the absence of air. Biogas
contains around 55-65% of methane, 30-40% of carbon dioxide and small
quantities of Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide, Oxygen and Hydrogen
Sulphide. The calorific value of biogas is appreciably high (around 4700 kcal
or 20 MJ at around 55% methane content). The gas can effectively be utilized
for generation of power through a biogas based power-generation system after
dewatering and cleaning of the gas. In addition, the slurry produced in the
process provides valuable organic manure for farming and sustaining the soil
fertility.

The Ministry has started
a scheme “Biogas based Distributed / Grid Power Generation Programme” from
2005-06 (4th January 2006) with a view to promote biogas based power
generation, especially in the small capacity range, based on the availability
of large quantity of animal wastes and wastes from forestry, rural based
industries (agro / food processing), kitchen wastes, etc., 

1.2     Objectives

The objectives of
programme are as follows:-

(i)           
Biogas based power units can be a reliable decentralized power generation
option in the country. In order to promote this route of power generation,
specifically in the small capacity range (3 kW to 250 kW), based on the
availability of large quantity of animal wastes and wastes from forestry, rural
based industries (agro/food processing), kitchen wastes, etc;

(ii)         
A number of projects of different capacities and applications will be takenup
for refining the technical know-how, developing manpower and necessary
infrastructure, establishing a proper arrangement of operation &
maintenance and large scale dissemination.

(iii)        
To mitigate Climate Change by preventing black carbon and methane emissions.

1.3     Implementation strategy: 

   The
programme would be implemented through nodal departments / agencies of the
States / UTs, KVIC, institutions and NGOs. The projects to be taken up by any
village level organization, institution, private entrepreneurs etc in rural
areas as well as areas covered under the Remote Village Electrification (RVE)
programme of MNES other than the industries and commercial establishments
covered under Urban, Industrial & Commercial Applications (UICA) programmes
for sale of electricity to individual / community / grid etc. on mutually
agreeable terms.  Installation
of projects will be encouraged only if specific responsibility is taken upright
from the initiation of project by the institution including for operation and
maintenance for the specified period as per DPR norms or otherwise for a
minimum period of ten years. 

1.4     Training & Awareness
Promotion

The programme provides
support for a variety of workshops, seminars, meetings, training programmers to
the implementing agencies/specialized organizations/Biogas Development &
Training Centers (BDTCs) for developing the required specifications and
standards, discussions/deliberations on the performance of systems, setting up
operation and maintenance mechanism, training of required manpower, capacity
building, business meets for the prospective industries, etc. with the ultimate
objective of promotion of power generation based on biogas in the country.

The quantum of financial
assistance to be provided by Ministry of New and Renewable

Energy (MNRE) for
conducting these programmers will be decided on the basis of nature &
duration of the programme, number of participants, etc. The maximum assistance,
however, is limited to `1,00,000 per event.

1.5     Central Financial Assistance
(CFA):  

 The central
financial assistance for such projects will be limited to a maximum of Rs.30000
to 40000 per kW depending upon capacity of the power generating projects in the
range of 3 kW to 250 kW of different rating limited to 40% of the plant cost.

   The
programme provides support for a variety of workshops, seminars, meetings,
training programmes to the implementing agencies / specialized organizations /
Biogas Development & Training Centres (BDTCs). 

1.6     Pattern of Release of
funds: 

Central 
Financial  Assistance  (CFA)  for  projects  and 
service  charges  to  State  Nodal 
organizations/implementing agencies/BDTC’s are given at Annexure-II and pattern
of release of funds would be as follows:

1. 50 per cent of the eligible CFA
   and service charges will be released to the State Nodal
   Department/Agency/organization/BDTC’s with the sanction order.
2. The  balance  50% 
   of  the  eligible  CFA  and service charges will 
   be  released  after  successful commissioning 
   of  the  biogas  power  plant  as  per 
   the  DPR  norms (wherever DPR is required),  receipt 
   of utilization  certificates,  audited  statement 
   of  expenditure. Project  on  completion, requires
   inspection report submitted to  MNRE by an  authorized 
   agency  of MNRE .The  condition of successful commissioning 
   of  the  plant would,  inter-alia,  imply generation
   of power with operational capacity  of 10 kWh/day/kW of sanctioned
   capacity for 3 consecutive days.
3. In case the project is set-up by
   the developer through his own resources, the entire eligible CFA could be
   released to the project developer after receipt of the successful
   commissioning and operational report from MNRE state Nodal departments/
   Agencies, KVIC and BDTC’s along with  other documents and meeting
   conditions as mentioned under para 4 (ii) above.
4.  For  preparation 
   of  DPR  for  power  projects,  (wherever 
   required)  and  for programmes  relating  to 
   Training  &  Awareness  Promotion,  50%  of 
   the  eligible CFA  will  be  released  to 
   implementing  organizations    along with 
   the  sanction order. The balance will be released on receipt of the
   utilization certificates, audited statement of expenditure and the final
   report at the time of final acceptance and settlement of the expenditure
   account of the project as per the approved norms.

1.7     Monitoring Mechanism

Monitoring  of 
the  Bio-gas  based  power  projects  would 
be  done  based  on  half yearly/annual progress reports as
well as monitoring by SNA/ an authorized agency of MNRE. The project developers
would extend all help required in monitoring of the projects.

1.8     Technology: 

1.8.1     Components of a Biogas Based
Power Generation System (BPGS)

• Biogas Plants

• Gas Cleaning System

• Engine with alternator

• Control Panel

• Machine Room / Shed

• Manure management
system / protocol

1.8.2     Biogas plants

Standard KVIC floating
drum model (vertical or horizontal type) would be supported. The eligible item
associated with a biogas plant includes:

• Digester, gas holder
and accessories

• Feed / slurry handling
system (composed pits) with water supply and storage

• Initial feed

• Gas outlet

1.8.3     Gas Cleaning System

The biogas contains
hydrogen disulphide gas. Concentration of hydrogen disulphide in access of 0.1
% is harmful to the engine. Hence it is necessary to remove hydrogen sulphide
before the gas is taken to the engines.

1.8.4     Engine with alternator

• 100% biogas engines

• Micro-turbines

• Standard dual fuel
engines preferably with bio-diesel in place of diesel.

1.8.5     Control / Monitoring Panel

BIS Standard control /
monitoring panel would be supported.

1.8.6     Machine Room / Shed

A  proper 
machine  room  with  shed  would  be 
planned  as  per  standard  practices.  The 
biogas generated  in  the  digester,  if 
necessary  can  be  stored  in  a  suitable 
storage  unit  or  membrane  type storage balloon

1.8.7     Manure management system
/protocol

1.8.7.1Manure management
is an integral part of a biogas based power generation system for arriving at
an economically feasible operation level. Marketing strategy of the biogas
slurry or the value added bio-manure is required to be defined

1.8.7.2Any new efficient
system for production of biogas, cleaning of the gas and conversion of the gas
to electricity, etc. can also be used subject to prior approval of the
Ministry.

1.8.7.3Fixed dome /
Deenbandhu  and other approved models of  biogas plant up to capacity
of 10 – 90 cubic meter per day may also be propagated as per design dimensions
and standards for the same developed at BDTC, PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab and medium
and large capacity approved models of Biogas plants for digestion of cattle
dung and other suitable biomass. Approval of MNRE may be sought for any new
model of Biogas plant before submission of project proposal(s) under these
guidelines.

1.9     Potential and Achievement

A cumulative total of 348 projects with Biogas
generation capacity of 65,287 m³ and power generation capacity of 6.62MW 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.
State-wise information on achievement vis-a-vis potential is given in Annexure-Ias per figures of
28-02-2011. 

1.10  Details:           

1.10.1       Eligibility
criteria:  

The programme is
implemented through State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) with the involvement of KVIC,
Institutions, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), Co-operative, Panchayats, NGOs,
manufactures or entrepreneurs etc.  

1.10.2       How to avail:
 

The projects to be taken
up by any village level organization, Panchayats, institution, private
entrepreneurs, industries, etc. in rural areas other than the industries and
commercial establishments covered under urban, industrial and commercial
applications (UICA) programmes for sale/use of electricity to individual,
community, grid etc. The proposals have to be submitted in the prescribed
format to the concerned State Nodal agencies who in turn would forward to the
Ministry with their recommendations for seeking Central Financial Assistance
(CFA) under the scheme. 

Contact Person:           Shri
Dr. A.R. Shukla, Advisor (Telefax: 91-11-24361604, E-mail: shuklaar[at]nic[dot]in)Shri A.Haribhaskaran, Scientist ‘B’ (E-mail: hari[dot]a[at]nic[dot]in) Annexure-1 : State-wise
Biogas Based Distributed/ Grid Power Generation Projects installed since
inception till 31-03-2011