PAU, Saroja collaborate to commercialise biogas plant models

To give boost to the biogas development in the country, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has signed three agreements with Saroja Sustainable Solutions Private Limited, New Delhi, for the commercialisation of its biogas technologies.

According to the agreement, the biogas deal include a fixed dome-type biogas plant (family size) with a capacity of 1m³/day to 25m³/day, a paddy straw-based biogas plant made of mild steel sheet (above the ground), and a modified Janta model biogas plant with a capacity ranging from 25m³/day to 500m³/day.

The MoUs were signed by Dr. AS Dhatt, Director of Research at PAU, and Roshan Shankar, Founder and CEO of Saroja Sustainable Solutions.

Under the agreement, the university grants non-exclusive rights to the company for the production of these technologies within India for five years.

Dr. Gursahib Singh Manes, Additional Director of Research (Agricultural Engineering), congratulated Dr. Sarbjit Singh Sooch, Principal Scientist in the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, for securing the commercialisation deal. Dr. Sooch highlighted that the plant’s construction is straightforward, consisting of an all-brick masonry structure. He noted that this design is suitable for all regions of the country, costing 60-70% less than conventional floating drum biogas plants and requiring less maintenance.

Dr. Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director of the Technology Marketing and IPR Cell, emphasized that PAU technologies are promoting sustainability and impacting the lives of common citizens through commercialisation.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently approved the designs of small biogas plants developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The plants can generate 1 to 25 cubic meters of biogas per day and can be used to meet rural households’ cooking and lighting needs.

Also, a PAU start-up Fuma Labs Pvt Ltd which is operating under the brand name Craste, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a patent for their innovative “Process for Treatment of Biomass for Pulping and Biorefinery Application.”