Pilot plant to produce biogas established

Cost-effective: The Minister for Animal Husbandry, P. Geetha Jeevan, inaugurating a biogas plant at Sankaraperi near Tuticorin on Saturday.
— Photo: N. Rajesh

The plant was set up by the District Rural Development Agency with the technical assistance from Surya Services, a private consultant group for non-conventional energy usage.

Subramaniya Perumal, bio gas technician, DRDA, said that about 1,50,000 litres of sewerage waste and waste water generated out of about 1,500 households at Sankaraperi daily would be first decomposed at the plant using bio degradable fermentation method.

The biogas formed inside the chamber during the process would be filled into cylinders using specially designed ‘filling gadgets’.

“We are planning to produce 60 cubic metres of biogas every day which will be adequate to fill 30 cylinders,” Mr. Perumal said.

K. Selvaraj, proprietor, Surya Services, said that the gas produced could be used in vehicles run on diesel engines at a ratio of 3:7 with diesel.

“Computation of fuel economics shows that the introduction of gas will enable the owner of the vehicle to save about Rs.150 for every 100 km,” he added.

Moreover, the usage of biogas would help reduce environment pollution since emission of carbon monoxide can be ruled out.

Later, Ms Jeevan travelled in a jeep run on biogas produced from the pilot plant, for a few kilometres.

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