Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) ropes in industry to commercialize biogas technologies

In a major stride toward sustainable energy, the Ludhiana based Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has signed important agreements with MSA Bio-Energy Private Limited from Gujarat, and NANO ADDMIX from Maharashtra. Under these collaborations, the PAU with its partners will drive the commercialization of biogas technologies, including an above-ground, mild steel paddy straw-based biogas plant and the PAU Fixed Dome Type Family-size Biogas Plant.

The capacities of these biogas plants would be ranging from 1 m³/day to 25 m³/day. Towards the same, the Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) were signed by Dr. Gurjit Singh Mangat, Additional Director of Research (Agriculture) at PAU; Gaurav Verma from MSA Bio-Energy; and Rajeev Pandey from NANO ADDMIX.

Dr. Mangat praised the leadership of Dr. Sarbjit Singh Sooch, Head and Principal Scientist of the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, for spearheading the commercialization process. During the agreement signing ceremony, Dr. Sooch underscored the dual environmental and economic advantages of converting paddy straw into biogas through anaerobic digestion, noting that the approach mitigates the harmful impacts of stubble burning while producing clean energy and organic manure.

The paddy straw biogas plants offer a sustainable solution by transforming agricultural waste into biogas, which can be refined into CNG or PNG. This technology not only curbs pollution and enhances soil fertility but also reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Farmers can benefit financially by exchanging excess paddy straw for bio-fertilizer, fostering a circular agricultural economy.

Dr. Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director of the Technology Marketing and IPR Cell, reaffirmed PAU’s dedication to accelerating the transition of lab innovations to practical applications. He highlighted that PAU has already inked 46 MoAs with firms nationwide for biogas technologies, reinforcing the university’s active role in promoting environmental sustainability and renewable energy.

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is on the forefront of commercializing biogas technologies in the country to benefit the people & environment alike. It has previously also signed agreements with players Panj Aab Bio Fuel & Fertilizers, Saroja Sustainable Solutions etc. for the same very purpose. Last year, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had approved the designs of small biogas plants developed by the University which could generate 1 to 25 cubic meters of biogas per day and can be used to meet rural households’ cooking and lighting needs.