Maruti Suzuki to invest Rs 561 crore in 4 biogas plants

Maruti Suzuki India has revealed its plans to invest Rs 561 crore to establish four biogas plants as the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer steps up efforts to shift its production operations towards cleaner and renewable energy sources.

In an address to shareholders, Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava said that the company’s first phase will include four biogas plants, with the investment aimed at building experience in the technology before scaling up production and distribution.

Maruti Suzuki is setting up a 10-tonne-per-day (TPD) biogas plant at its Kharkhoda facility, which is expected to be commissioned in FY27. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to meet around 20% of the facility’s gas requirement.

At its Manesar facility, Maruti Suzuki has already increased biogas production capacity from 0.2 TPD to 0.7 TPD. The plant is expected to generate about 3.6 lakh standard cubic metres of biogas annually using food waste, Napier grass and paddy straw as feedstock. Cattle dung can also be used to increase production.

Maruti Suzuki is targeting consumption of more than 20 tonnes of biogas per day by FY31. At its Hansalpur facility, biogas has already replaced natural gas for around 10% of energy requirements.

Bhargava said biogas could reduce dependence on imported CNG and coal while creating additional benefits for agriculture. Converting crop residue and organic waste into biogas can also produce organic manure, improve soil quality, reduce crop burning and generate additional income for farmers.

The company’s expansion comes as the government promotes biogas through the GOBARdhan scheme, approved with an outlay of Rs 23,731 crore, which aims to significantly increase domestic biogas production and attract private investment in the sector.

On World Environment Day, Maruti Suzuki India announced two biogas projects worth Rs 150 crore as part of its push toward sustainable manufacturing and cleaner energy use. Similarly, it has clubbed with NDDB for the development of biogas projects based on cow-dung and other feedstocks.