Comparative Analysis: Biogas-to-Electricity Plants in India | IJORET – Volume 11- Issue 4 | IJORET-V11I4P3

Biogas-to-electricity plants offer a dual solution for waste management and decentralized power in India. This paper compares four operational plants across scales: Sivaganga industrial cogeneration (35 MW), Singanpore STP municipal plant (0.60 MW), Varadharajapuram village plant (2 tonne/day), and Ashok Meadows community digester (∼10 kW). Technical, financial, and social parameters are analyzed to evaluate replication potential. Results show industrial plants achieve high output but need captive feedstock and long-term PPAs, while STP-based systems like Singanpore provide municipal savings of ₹3-3.5 lakh/month and validate India’s first liquid waste-to-power model. Village-scale deployment at Varadharajapuram demonstrates circular economy benefits by powering street lights and supplying manure at ₹60 lakh capex. Community plants prove urban feasibility for bulk waste generators. Feedstock security and byproduct monetization are critical for sub-MW viability. The study provides benchmarks for policymakers to standardize tariffs and support biogas deployment from 5 kW to 35 MW.

The four cases confirm biogas-to-electricity is technically proven across India’s industrial, municipal, village, and community contexts. Industrial plants like Sivaganga deliver baseload power but depend on captive feedstock and long-term Power Purchase Agreements(PPAs),Municipal STPs, exemplified by Singanpore, achieve operational savings and GHG reduction, making them ideal for AMRUT/Smart Cities Mission integration. Village-scale plants like Varadharajapuram create circular economies — waste to power to manure — with high social acceptance when addressing local issues like pond pollution. Community models suit urban bulk waste generators. Common success factors: feedstock security, in-house/nearby power use to avoid grid-evacuation hurdles, and monetizing byproducts. The primary barrier remains financial viability below 1 MW due to lack of standardized tariffs and high per-kW capex[1],[2],[3],[5],[4],[6].

[1]Global Energy Monitor. (2024). Sivagangai Biomass Power Station. Global Energy Observatory. [2]Surat Municipal Corporation. (2023). Renewable Energy Initiatives: Singanpore STP 0.60 MW Biogas Power Plant. smc.gov.in [3]Lakshmi, K. (2022, Aug 15). Cow dung, food waste light up a village near Chennai. The Hindu. [4]Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. (2023). National Bioenergy Programme Guidelines. MNRE, GoI. [5]Carbon Loops Pvt Ltd. (2021). Case Studies: Decentralized Biogas for Communities. Corporate Brochure. Central Electricity Authority. (2024). Cogeneration and Biomass Power Assessment Report. CEA, Ministry of Power.8. Nomenclature [Citation Format]

Submit Your Paper Call for Papers About IJORET Journal Scope Review Process