Awareness on effective use of biogas lacking:

Biogas plants for domestic and industrial use

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Central Environment Authority (CEA) is taking steps to protect the environment from contamination and pollution. It insists that large, medium and small scale industries set up waste water management systems in factory premises. This decision comes in the wake of environment activists urging the authorities to minimise pollution.

A biogas plant at Dixon, Ratnapura

Producing biogas using household waste is also recommended. This project has been introduced targetting the rural community and will help prevent the disposal of household waste to the environment and will be a source of income for them. Srimal Tissera, a resident of Maharagama has introduced this project in various parts of the country.

Protecting the environment from contamination is the need of the hour, because a large number of factories are being set up across the country. Biogas is a mixture of gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from regionally available raw materials such as recycled waste. It is a renewable energy source and in many cases exerts a very small carbon footprint.

Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion with anaerobic bacteria or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material and crops, he said.

Tissera said that he faced many challenges in the process of utilising household waste to produce biogas. Even though such a project was introduced in the 1960s, due to the lack of proper awareness campaigns the project ended in failure. Bringing this technology to villages was a challenge, because the people had very little knowledge about the benefits of such a project. Over 90 percent of projects failed. Such projects will play a pivotal role in the economy of village communities, he said.

Producing biogas using household waste is an easy task, whoever is willing to start this project can easily commence it because very little capital is required. Plastic water tanks are used in the production process. Its durability however is comparatively low. Now a well-known plastic manufacturing firm handles it effectively, he said.

They producing the required materials to produce biogas. It is somewhat expensive. A 500 litre water tank is enough to produce a biogas plant, he said.

Pan Asia Bank and the Regional Development Bank has come forward to help the project. They have arranged loan schemes for those engaged in biogas production.

The next challenge is to create awareness about this project. Tea sediment, food waste, vegetable waste and coconut sediments are the raw materials required to produce biogas, Tissera said.

A vegetable cultivation

This projects are presently in operation in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Matara, Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Chilaw and Puttalam areas, he said. Even the people who live below the poverty line can start this project.

He said that as waste gathers in domestic use is not disposed to the environment and such a system ensures protection of the environment.

"I introduced a Quality Waste Water Management System at the National Livestock Development Board in Welisara. A waste water treatment plant has now been set up in the premises.

Srimal Tissera

"Our people are capable of carrying such projects. This project is a result of a six- year research", Tissera said.

Liquid fertiliser produced during the biogas production process can be used even for agriculture. Because this is 100 percent organic fertiliser. Harvest can be increased by double fold. Gas or liquid fertiliser can be produced from household waste, he said.

"I have a an idea to produce biogas cylinders. This project is to be carried out with the help of the Army. We have set up a biogas plant at the Panagoda Army Camp and we have an idea to set up such a plant at the Boossa Army Camp",he said.

"We installed a plant last week at the Local Government and Provincial Council Ministry in Union place. We have set up industrial level biogas plants at the Ragama hospital and Ceylon Electricity Board Training Centre in Piliyandala. By December 31, 2012 I could produce 9 million units worth Rs. 90 million of biogas fertiliser.

We have set up a 5,000 litre biogas plant at Temple Trees with the capacity of five cbm. Two kilos of gas is produced from it. Fifty litres of active liquid compost fertiliser is produced per day. This fertiliser is used for vegetable cultivation in Temple Trees. Twenty five kilos of waste is used in the biogas production process. Waste is a resource for everyone if they installed this kind of plant",Tissera said.

When asked whether he had an idea to expand this project to other Government institutions. He said that he has held discussions with various Government Institutions in this regard.

Pan Asia Bank has introduced a loan scheme for armed forces retirees and pensioners to operate this kind of project. Regional Development Banks are ready to help those willing to start such projects. If other banks also come forward it will be helpful to promote this industry. Compared to LP gas dangers arising by using biogas is low, he said.

"I have developed a compact biogas plant using waste food rather than cow dung to produce biogas for cooking.

The plant is compact and can be used by urban households, rural households, hotels, hospitals, schools, Wild Life Park bungalows, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Camps and Quarters.

Fatty, starchy or sugary feedstock ( kitchen waste, coconut refuse, market waste, garden waste, hotel waste, paper pulp, water hyacinth (Japan Gabra, Salvenia). Just 2 kg of such feedstock will produces about 200-250g of methane and the reaction can be completed within 6 hours',Tissera said.

"Biogas plants are environment- friendly, natural, organic-based, long-lasting and therefore it will be an asset to any organisation or household. In addition to Biogas, it also produces an Active Liquid Compost Fertilizer. I have obtained a patent for it. I am also proud to mention that I have won a Presidential award", he said.

I have come to an agreement with a well-known plastic tank manufacturer, permitting them to manufacture and market the plant, while the biogas generation technology is mine . The portable biogas plants are manufactured to the highest standards by this institution", he said.

Manufacture of a biogas plant requires three times more raw material than the raw material needed for a normal water tank of the same size. While the price paid to purchase a plant can be recovered in 14 months from the generated biogas, the active liquid compact fertiliser produced by this plant will also be an asset as it helps produce poison-free crops or vegetables, he said.

"I charge only a nominal consultation fee to make the plants more affordable. Several local banks are working towards introducing a low-interest loan scheme for those interested in buying biogas plants", he said. Biogas has many advantages ,

production of biogas reduces the use of LP Gas and , reduces use of artificial fertiliser. It also reduces the use of insecticide, he said.

The major advantages of this plant is that it does not require animal waste to sustain biogas generation and as a result leaves a very small carbon footprint, which makes it ideal for the installation of such plants in urban areas. Other advantages are, user friendly, allowing the users themselves to install the unit according to a set of simple instructions and, in addition, the users get a highly effective, both as a fertiliser and an insecticide, liquid organic fertilizer as a by-product' he said.

The installed plants are now functional and the users have recovered the installation cost, he said.