Tackling Stubble Burning, Delhi NCR’s Air Pollution: UP To Soon Set Up 100 Compressed Biogas Plants – News18

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is likely to remove the tag of being a contributor to the high pollution levels in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), often caused by the extensive stubble burning. The state is set to establish as many as 100 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants, which it said is the solution to the stubble burning problem, a major cause of air pollution in the state and Delhi NCR.

The CBG plants, said to be ‘an eco-friendly solution’ to the grave problem, will convert agricultural waste into biogas thus reducing the need for stubble burning and improving air quality.

Officials with the UP Government said the move is aimed at plugging the root cause of stubble burning, which until now was a perennial problem. “Until now, stubble burning was an issue, which was often responsible for the deteriorating air quality in UP as well as in Delhi NCR. However, setting up the CBG plants would not only curb the air pollution level but will also add to the income of the farmers,” a government spokesperson said in a press note which the UP Government released recently.

WHAT IS A COMPRESSED BIOGAS PLANT?

A CBG plant converts waste and biomass such as agricultural residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage treatment plant waste into biogas through anaerobic decomposition. This biogas is then purified to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapour and is compressed into CBG, which contains over 90% methane (CH4). CBG has a high calorific value and properties similar to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), making it a renewable and eco-friendly alternative for automotive, industrial and commercial uses.

Officials said that the large-scale conversion of biomass into CBG has multiple benefits, including reducing the need for natural gas and crude oil imports, lowering emissions and pollution and to utilize the agricultural waste including stubble.

UP’S BIO-ENERGY POLICY 2022

Officials with the UP government said that UP State Bio-Energy Policy 2022 is a five-year plan aimed at promoting bioenergy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, boost the bio-economy, support agricultural mechanization, and increase inclusivity. With its bioenergy policy, UP has allocated Rs 750 crore (2022–27) for CBG projects, offering subsidies, land and other incentives. The state has the potential to support 1,000 CBG projects.

24 CBG UNITS IN PROGRESS

As part of UP’s Bio-Energy Policy 2022, the state government plans to establish 100 CBG plants to address stubble burning, particularly in western UP. These plants will enable farmers to sell stubble and agricultural waste as raw materials, turning waste into a source of income. As per the rough estimate, each CBG plant processes 200 metric tonnes of straw, 20 metric tonnes of press mud, and 10 metric tonnes of cattle dung daily, producing 20 metric tonnes of biogas and 125 metric tonnes of organic manure, which enhances agricultural productivity. Interestingly, the investors too have shown strong interest in the initiative, with 21 out of 26 proposed projects receiving in-principle approval.

The government plans to have 20 projects operational by 2025 and aims to double bio-coal and biodiesel production during this period, contributing to sustainable energy goals, the government spokesperson said.

“UP has emerged as a leader in CBG production, with fuel being generated from stubble in these plants. As of last year, 10 CBG plants were operational in the state, and UP now ranks number one nationwide in CBG production. Currently, there are 24 CBG units in which the construction work is under progress, while 93 more units would be established,” the officer added.

On March 8, 2023, Indian Oil’s CBG plant was inaugurated in Dhuriapar, Gorakhpur, in the presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, the plant was said to be a significant step toward environmental protection, energy self-reliance and boosting farmers’ income.