HPCL commissions 14 tpd compressed biogas plant in UP’s Badaun district

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has commissioned a 14 tonnes per day compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh. The plant, which has a processing capacity of 100 tonnes per day of rice straw, will also generate 65 tonnes of solid manure.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated HPCL’s pioneering biomass-based compressed biogas (CBG) plant on Saturday in the presence Hardeep Singh Puri, union minister for petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban affairs.

Addressing the gathering, Hardeep Singh Puri said the CBG plant at Badaun, spread over an area of 50 acres, has been set up with an investment of Rs133 crore.

He said the setting up of the CBG plant aligns with the central government’s emphasis on reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. The National Biofuel Policy 2018 targets reduction of the country’s import dependency by 10 per cent, with a focus on second-generation (2G) bio refineries and compressed bio-gas plants.

Puri said that stabilisation of production at the Badaun CBG plant will help in reducing stubble burning of 17,500-20,000 acres of paddy fields, resulting in annual reduction of 55,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions while also providing direct employment to around 100 people and indirect employment to another 1,000 people.

The minister said more than 100 such plants are planned to be set up across the state in the near future.

The CBG plant, with a processing capacity of 100 tonnes per day of lignocellulosic biomass, is a groundbreaking initiative. The project comprises facility for receipt and storage of raw materials, a CBG processing section, associated utilities, CBG cascade filling shed, and solid manure storage and bagging facility.

The project will also help boost farmers’ income by procuring biomass from local farmers and farmer producer organisations, providing livelihood opportunities to thousands of people. The sale of organic manure to farmers will help enhance soil quality and crop yields, contributing to sustainable agriculture.

The technology for CBG production has been developed and licensed by Pune-based Praj Industries. The design of the plant’s  digester maximises biogas yield. The plant also incorporates a pollution-sensitive Zero Liquid Discharge design, adhering to stringent norms of the Fertiliser Control Order.

CBG, with properties similar to CNG, serves as a green, renewable automotive fuel. The project anticipates a reduction in natural gas and crude imports, decreased emissions, and a positive contribution to climate change goals and Swachh Bharat 

Inauguration of the HPCL CBG Plant marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for a future grounded in energy access, efficiency, sustainability, and security, according to a petroleum ministry release.