Latest news with #Bio-Gas
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Wealth from waste: how crop residue can provide nutritious cattle fodder, make farming eco-friendly
Scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here seems to have found a solution to the country's mounting problem of dealing with agriculture residue such as paddy straw and rice and wheat husk. Over the past few years, scientists at the premier institute have been working on converting rice straw and other crop residue into nutrient rich fodder for the livestock and also other value-added products such as Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Fermented Organic Manure (FOM). Usually farmers resort to burning the crop residues, leading to environment pollution. Though it is already being used as cattle fodder, it is not as nutritious as other foods. Scientists have now shown that crop residue like rice straw when treated with a relatively simple chemical process could effectively help bridge the gap in the country's fodder needs, besides protecting the environment. By separating 'lignin', a complex polymer found in plant cell walls, and adding a few essential ingredients, rice straw could be turned into a cattle fodder with improved palatability and digestibility. The process is called 'delignification', said principal scientist Polumati Anand. After testing the process in an in house pilot plant on the institute campus in Tarnaka, the fortified fodder was evaluated in field trials. Buffalo calves and sheep were fed the fodder and their food intake, digestion and growth examined. These field trials of the fortified fodder held at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Chengicharla, (Hyderabad) showed 'remarkable' improvements in digestibility of buffaloes as palatability increased from 20% to 60%, he explained. Weight gain in the sheep was approximately 3.7 times higher and methane emissions from the animals also dropped. Following tests on sheep, goats and buffaloes, the treated biomass is being fed to cows as well, said Dr. Anand. Utilising the 'delignified' paddy straw in the animal diets offers a sustainable and economical alternative, reducing feed costs and promoting eco-friendly farming practices. Studies are also being carried out at P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Rajendranagar (Hyderabad), to evaluate the effect of fortified fodder developed by CSIR-IICT on the milk yield and quality, said the principal scientist. Scientists are of the view that treated biomass could effectively deal with the growing need for a cost-effective animal fodder with enhanced nutritional efficiency with farmers as direct beneficiaries. The institute has also developed a Dry Anaerobic Digester with Unique Hydrodynamics (DAD-UH) Technology for the generation of CBG and FOM from rice straw and rice husk. A pilot plant, which is being operated on the institute campus for the past 18 months, has shown that about 100 kg and 140 kg of CBG could be generated from one tonne of rice husk and straw respectively, said scientist Sameena. Chief Scientist A.G. Rao said that as per the Centre's SATAT (Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation) programme, a minimum of two tonnes per day capacity CBG plant can be installed by an entrepreneur, and the gas generated could be supplied to nearby CNG bunks being operated by Oil Manufacturing Companies. These plants are remunerative with a simple payback period of four years with guaranteed CBG and FOM (Fermented Organic Manure) purchase from by the Centre, he said. The pilot plants and the process of reinventing crop residues was showcased during a recent farmers conclave held at the institute, where Telangana Agriculture Secretary M. Raghunandan Rao expressed concern over farmers burning crop residue. The government is proposing to set up agri-based industries using biomass and others, including CNG plants on land belonging to the Agriculture department, he said. Hailing the farm friendly products, CSIR-IICT Director D. Srinivasa Reddy said the institute, which had played a pioneering role in promoting pharma and allied industries, has also been working on developing eco-friendly technologies. 'Resources currently considered as 'waste' are being utilised as 'resources' for the generation of value-added products in addition to complimenting farmers' income,' he added.
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Big push to oil & gas infra in last 11 years
New Delhi: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Thursday said that over the last 11 years, India's oil and gas sector has expanded steadily, from building modern refineries and pipelines to securing reserves and promoting cleaner fuels as part of the infrastructure revolution that is taking place in the country. The minister said, 'Infrastructure has been central to India's growth story under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and these efforts in the oil and gas sector have strengthened the country's energy security and laid the foundation for a self-sufficient future.' Highlighting the infrastructure milestones in the oil and gas sector, Puri said that the country now has 23 modern operational refineries with a total capacity of 257 million metric tonnes per annum to produce petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, jet fuel and LPG The Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure that provides green cooking fuel to household kitchens in the country has been expanded to cover 733 districts across the country. Besides, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for fuelling vehicles is being provided across 8,000 retail stations to consumers nationwide. The minister also underlined that E20 ethanol blended petrol was now being made available for vehicles at all the retail outlets nationwide. He further stated that the Ministry's Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) initiatives have resulted in the setting up of 106 plants with the combined capacity of 625 TPD. The minister also highlighted the ministry's initiative in setting up storage facilities for strategic petroleum reserves, on which the country can fall back in times of emergency and which assume importance during times of geopolitical reserves can also be dipped into at times when global prices skyrocket to provide a cushion to the national oil companies. The minister mentioned that the storage capacity at Pudur is 2.25 million metric tonnes (MMT), the Visakhaptnam facility has the capacity to store 1.33 MMT of crude oil while Mangalore has a storage capacity of 1.5 MMT.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Big push to oil & gas infra in last 11 years has strengthened India's energy security: Puri
New Delhi: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri , on Thursday said that over the last 11 years, India's oil and gas sector has expanded steadily, from building modern refineries and pipelines to securing reserves and promoting cleaner fuels as part of the infrastructure revolution that is taking place in the country. The minister said, "Infrastructure has been central to India's growth story under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and these efforts in the oil and gas sector have strengthened the country's energy security and laid the foundation for a self-sufficient future." Highlighting the infrastructure milestones in the oil and gas sector, Puri said that the country now has 23 modern operational refineries with a total capacity of 257 million metric tonnes per annum to produce petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, jet fuel and LPG The Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure that provides green cooking fuel to household kitchens in the country has been expanded to cover 733 districts across the country. Besides, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for fuelling vehicles is being provided across 8,000 retail stations to consumers nationwide. The minister also underlined that E20 ethanol blended petrol was now being made available for vehicles at all the retail outlets nationwide. He further stated that the Ministry's Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) initiatives have resulted in the setting up of 106 plants with the combined capacity of 625 TPD. The minister also highlighted the ministry's initiative in setting up storage facilities for strategic petroleum reserves , on which the country can fall back in times of emergency and which assume importance during times of geopolitical uncertainty. These reserves can also be dipped into at times when global prices skyrocket to provide a cushion to the national oil companies. The minister mentioned that the storage capacity at Pudur is 2.25 million metric tonnes (MMT), the Visakhaptnam facility has the capacity to store 1.33 MMT of crude oil while Mangalore has a storage capacity of 1.5 MMT. Besides, another strategic reserve facility is being built at Chandikhol, which is also on the sea coast. He also underscored that the public sector oil marketing companies have set up six skill development institutions which have already succeeded in skilling as many as 16,000 professionals so far. --IANS sps/rad
Hans India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Collector directs identification of government land for MSME parks
Nandyal: District Collector G. Raja Kumari has instructed Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs) and Tahsildars to identify government land across constituencies for MSME park establishment. The directive was given during a review meeting on Tuesday at the Collectorate's video conference hall, focusing on land acquisition for the Integrated Rural Energy Program. The Collector stressed the urgency of this process, noting approximately 50 acres of government land in Panyam and Sugali Metta, and 100 acres in Ungaralagutta, Dhone mandal. She directed the Nandyal and Dhone RDOs to conduct joint inspections with the APIIC Zonal Manager for feasibility assessments. The Atmakur RDO was tasked with examining 2.5 acres of government land in Atmakur mandal. The Collector also discussed Reliance's interest in setting up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants. Reliance Industries has shown interest in 765 acres of land across Gadivemula, Chagalamarri, Rudravaram, and Allagadda, out of the 5,000 acres identified. Tahsildars were instructed to inspect these locations for encroachments. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, officials were directed to explore the possibility of establishing substations by identifying around 10 acres of land in Panyam, Nandyal, Gospadu, Jupadubungla, Bhanumukkala, and Panyam mandals. Joint Collector C. Vishnu Charan, DRO Ramu Naik, and RDOs participated in the meeting.
Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Kuwaiti Company to Invest $1 Billion USD in NexGen Energia's Green Energy Initiatives
PNN New Delhi [India], April 21: In a milestone move that reflects increasing global faith in India's renewable energy industry, Noida green energy firm NexGen Energia Ltd has raised a $1 Billion USD investment pledge from regional investment behemoth Capital Edge of Kuwait. Equity-based funding will enable NexGen Energia, India's leading installer of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants, to expand its CBG infrastructure across the country, supporting the country's shift to clean energy and energy self-reliance. This strategic infusion represents a sea change for NexGen Energia, which has emerged as an increasingly important contributor to India's clean energy movement. Fostering India's Green Transition NexGen Energia has led the way in India's transition to renewable and alternative forms of energy. One of its crown jewel programs is the building out of Compressed Bio-Gas infrastructure--a cleaner, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. With the support of Capital Edge, the firm will be able to grow its operations exponentially. The $1 Billion USD equity infusion will be fully utilized in the deployment and operation of CBG plants, making the company's vision of sustainable innovation a reality. "This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment in our journey. It will accelerate our vision to build a greener India through scaled-up CBG production. We're excited about the environmental and social impact this will create across the country," said Nishant Tiwari, Director Sales, NexGen Energia Ltd. He further stated, "We are committed to making every rupee of this investment work to promote innovation, create jobs, and facilitate India's move towards energy independence." The timing of the investment is timely. With the Indian government aggressively pursuing initiatives such as the National Bio-Energy Mission, the private sector is being viewed increasingly as a critical partner in attaining energy security and carbon neutrality objectives. Capital Edge: A Partner with Purpose Capital Edge, an investment company based in Kuwait, specializes in high-impact projects in emerging markets of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It is experienced in structured equity financing for scalable, sustainable projects with quantifiable social impact. One of the distinguishing aspects of Capital Edge's model is its investor-centric model. For big projects in excess of USD $1 Billion, such as the NexGen Energia one, the company employs a long-term equity investment model, providing companies with the fiscal room to expand without pressure for short-term repayment. 1,000 CBG Plants by 2026: A National Vision At the heart of NexGen Energia's growth strategy is its intention to set up 1,000 Compressed Bio-Gas plants in India by the end of 2026. The mass rollout is anticipated to add considerably to India's clean energy potential while, at the same time, resolving environmental and rural economic issues. CBG, made from agricultural residue and organic biomass, is not merely a green-burning fuel, but also an instrument for rural empowerment and waste management. Leverage the potential of India's huge biomass reservoirs to make waste a wealth creator--generate a decentralized circular energy system, says Kishor Panda, CEO, NexGen Energia Ltd. "Every CBG plant we set up creates a ripple effect--job creation, rural entrepreneurship, and minimizing environmental waste," Kishor Panda added. "With this capital backing, we can now accelerate plant building, increase supply chain efficiencies, and expand our operations pan-India." Industry estimates are that the development of 1,000 plants could generate over 50,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, particularly in rural and semi-urban locations. Moreover, the environmental contribution is significant, dramatically lowering methane emissions and substituting fossil fuel reliance. Why CBG Matters CBG, or Compressed Bio-Gas, is a purified form of biogas that has comparable properties to natural gas and can be utilized as a clean automotive fuel. The manufacturing of CBG manages organic waste, promotes local economies, and lowers dependence on foreign fuel. India, with its large agricultural economy, generates enormous amounts of organic waste that remain untapped in most cases. NexGen Energia's strategy is to utilize this untapped potential and convert it into clean energy. The Indian government has already identified CBG as one of its priority energy sources under its SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) program, which encourages the setting up of 5,000 CBG plants by 2030. NexGen Energia's vision of setting up 1,000 plants places it at the forefront of this national endeavour. A Global Vote of Confidence This investment agreement is more than a commercial transaction--it's a powerful indication of international confidence in India's clean energy future. With foreign investors looking for sustainable and forward-looking opportunities, India is becoming an attractive source of climate-convergent capital. Capital Edge's partnership with NexGen Energia highlights a more widespread pattern of strategic cooperation among global financiers and Indian inventors. Partnerships such as these are needed to achieve the gigantic infrastructure and capital needs of the transition to clean energy. The Road Ahead Now that the agreement has been formalized, Capital Edge and NexGen Energia are moving at a fast pace to launch the second stage of implementation. Early projects will be launched in high-potential areas such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, with land acquisition and vendor associations already progressing. The next 18-24 months are planned by the company to finish a number of dozens CBG facilities, with scaled rollout extending through 2026. The vision also extends to include supply chain integration, technology innovation, and community involvement for long-term sustainability of the project. As India moves closer to its clean energy aspirations, collaborations such as that of NexGen Energia and Capital Edge will prove decisive. They don't just contribute financial strength but also global prestige, technical proficiency, and common dedication to sustainability. With this $1 Billion USD equity injection, NexGen Energia is more primed than ever to energize India's clean energy future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
