Food Waste to Biogas: A Performance Evaluation

Abstract

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 31st March, 2014. During the year 2014-15, a target of setting up 1, 10,000biogas plants has been set. In India, approximately 5 million small scale biogas plants are currently in operation. 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.Bio gas -a source from the waste is an excellent form of renewable energy. The waste fromfood, plant and animal is effectively processed & evolved in the form of energy which is a green &clean. By implementing Bio gas plants, greater benefits to the society and mankind is achieved. Spectrum of benefits could be achieved in Bio Gas plant such as reduced GHG emissions, reduced dependency on imported fossil fuels, reduced carbon foot print, waste reduction, utilisation of waste to good, job creation, low water inputs, flexible and efficient use of bio-gas,benefits to farmers such as additional income to the farmers involved, use of digestate as excellent fertilizer and a Closed nutrient cycle.Biogas implementation using kitchen waste allows it to safe disposal of the waste & also reduces Landfills. The concept of our plant is based on Digestion, which is a biological process that occurs in the presence of anaerobic organisms at ambient pressures and temperature 35 � 70�C.Anaerobic Digestion is a microbial process for the production of biogas which consists of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Bio gas is a clean & slow burning gas which has a calorific value of 5000- 5500kcal/kg (20935- 23028 kJ/kg)& the process involves the following steps: Pulverising the waste, Hydrolysis, Moisture removal, Pre Digestion, Main Digestion & Production of Methane Bio Gas. Biogas thus produced, is being utilised as a cooking fuel in Ladies hostel at GRI. (Foran approximate strength of 1000 Nos and for one partial meal per day). The Digestate, thus produced as slurry is collected and used as manure for plants in campus. GRI is glad to submit this paper as a real time project, which is based on sustainable development& could open avenues to rural economy and effective use of waste management � a mantra for all developing & developed countries.