The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, is saving Rs. 50,000 a month from its electricity bill by using the power generated from a biogas plant on its campus.
The UAS, Bangalore, is the only agricultural university in the country to set up such a plant.
The 200m3-capacity plant, which became operational in February last, is generating about 300 to 320 units of electricity a day. The 20kv-biogas generator runs for 16 hours a day.
The plant requires four to five tonnes of cow dung, agricultural waste, and kitchen waste a day.
Vice-Chancellor K. Narayana Gowda and Biogas Project Coordinator V. Kumargoud said the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had given Rs. 8 lakh for the project. The total cost is Rs. 40 lakh and payback period is two years. It was designed and executed by Pune-based Mailhem Engineering Private Ltd.
The power thus generated is used at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra Farm, cow sheds, research laboratories, and for operating chaff cutting machine, water pumps, milking machine and biogas slurry pump. It generates three tonnes of organic manure a day too.
“The university is saving about Rs. 50,000 a month towards electricity bill,” the Vice-Chancellor said. In a year, the university pays about Rs. 2 crore towards electricity bill to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).
The unit ensures regular power supply and it is eco-friendly too. Prof. Narayana Gowda said the university would set up similar plants on campuses of agricultural colleges at Bangalore, Shimoga, Mandya, Hassan, Ponnampet, Chintamani and other research stations in districts.
Next step
The university would encourage small farmers to set up similar units, the Vice-Chancellor said. Shivanna, Director of Research, UAS-B, said: “It is worth investing in biogas power projects which not only take care of organic waste and garbage but also gives gaseous fuel methane as an end product for generating electricity and organic fertilizer.”
