ntroduction : Biogas is a clean and efficient fuel. Biogas is produced from Cattle Dung, Human Excreta and other organic matter in Biogas plant through a process called 'Digestion'. Biogas contains 55% to 60% methane which is inflammable. It also contains 30% to 35% carbon dioxide and traces of Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Water. Bio slurry which is bye product has manurial value than farm yard manure

Objectives :

             The objectives of programme are as follows : 

1. To provide fuel for cooking purposes and organic manure to rural households through family type biogas plants
2. To mitigate drudgery of rural women ,reduce pressure on forests and accentuate social benefits
3. To improve sanitation in villages by linking sanitary toilets with biogas plants

1. Potential and Achievement

Approved designs of family type biogas plants    

Cooking :
Biogas can be used in a specially designed burner for cooking. A biogas plant of 2 cum. capacity is sufficient for providing cooking fuel to a family of 4 members.

Lighting :    
Gas lamps can be fueled by biogas. The requirement of gas   for powering a 100 candle lamp (60 W) is 0.13 cum. per hour.

Power Generation :

Biogas can be used to operate a dual fuel engine and can replace upto 80% of   diesel.

Implementation Strategy :

This programme is being implemented with the active participation of Turnkey workers who have been trained by PAU, Ludhiana. The turnkey workers arrange a trained  mason for installation of Biogas plants, helps the beneficiary for procuring good quality material which includes burners and other fittings required for the biogas plants. The turnkey worker got filled the application form of the beneficiary for informing the concerned field officer for starting the installation of Biogas plant. Then the beneficiary got installed the plant through trained mason under the supervision of turnkey worker and field officer of PEDA. After completion / commissioning of the biogas plant the application is submitted to Head Quarter of PEDA for release of permissible subsidy to beneficiaries and SEW charges to the concerned SEW. After sample checking from H.Q. level, the subsidy and SEW charges are released. The turnkey worker stands guaranteed for three years for successful operation of the biogasplant. 

(i)    Central Subsidy :

(ii)    Turn-Key Job Fee : : The amount of turn-key job fee is Rs. 1500/- per plant with guarantee of five years from the date of installation.

(iii) Repair charges for old non-functional plants:  Financial support is given up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the rate of Central subsidy as applicable for a given category of beneficiary and area for repair of plants, which have been

(i)    DESIGN OF LARGE CAPACITY BIOGAS PLANTS

A large capacity biogas plant (New Modified PAU Janta Model Biogas Plant) has been developed by Punjab Agricultural University to cater the needs of dairy farmers. This, essentially, is a "Janta" design but of higher capacity. The gas-holder is hemispherical in shape and is structurally safe & crack-resistant. The construction of this type of plant is easy and is not very different from the method for the Deenbandhu Biogas Plant. The details of New Modified PAU Janta Model Biogas Plant are shown in figure- I and the dimensions of different sized biogas plants are shown in table 1. The capacity wise detail of different capacity of Biogas Plants for power generation is detailed as per table 2.

Large Capacity Fixed Dome Type Biogas Plants

The details of New Modified PAU Janta Model biogas plant is shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 1 : Dimensions of New Modified PAU Janta model Biogas Plant