Bangalore set to generate CBG from sewage

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is set to launch an ambitious project to convert sewage sludge into Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), aiming to boost sustainability while generating significant revenue.

According to the official statement of the Bangalore authority, the initiative could yield an estimated Rs 120 crore over the next 20 years.

The Karnataka State Cabinet has already approved the project, including the Rs 85-crore investment for the biogas upgrading facility, paving the way for its implementation.

BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar stated that the project will be implemented across five major sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bengaluru. The upgraded biogas will either be injected into the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network or used as a cleaner alternative fuel for transportation.

Currently, most STPs in Bangalore utilize biogas for on-site electricity generation, while at least one facility flares the gas, leading to energy loss. The new project seeks to optimize the use of this resource by upgrading it into high-value CBG.

The initiative will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. A private concessionaire will invest about Rs 85 crore to set up the biogas purification and compression infrastructure and will also be responsible for its operation and maintenance. BWSSB, in turn, will provide about 13,000 square metres of land within STP premises for the project, without transferring ownership.