COMPRESSED BIO GAS

Subject: Science & tech

Context : Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said in November that India was set to receive investments of Rs 2 lakh crore in 5,000 CBG plants.

Concept :

• Bio-gas is produced naturally through a process of anaerobic decomposition from waste / bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc.
• After purification, it is compressed and called CBG, which has pure methane content of over 95%.

What is CBG?

• Compressed Bio-Gas is exactly similar to the commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential.
• With calorific value (~52,000 KJ/kg) and other properties similar to CNG, Compressed Bio-Gas can be used as an alternative, renewable automotive fuel.

How it works?

• CBG produced at these plants will be transported through cascades of cylinders to the fuel station networks of OMCs for marketing as a green transport fuel alternative.
• The entrepreneurs would be able to separately market the other by-products from these plants, including bio-manure, carbon-dioxide, etc., to enhance returns on investment.
• This initiative is expected to generate direct employment for 75,000 people and produce 50 million tonnes of bio-manure for crops.
• There are multiple benefits from converting municipal solid waste into CBG on a commercial scale:

Responsible waste management, reduction in carbon emissions and pollution.

Additional revenue source for farmers.

Boost to entrepreneurship, rural economy and employment.

Support to national commitments in achieving climate change goals.

Reduction in import of natural gas and crude oil.

Buffer against crude oil/gas price fluctuations.