Uttar Pradesh to roll out 2,250 biogas plants in rural households

The Uttar Pradesh government will be implementing a large-scale rural biogas initiative aimed at promoting clean energy and sustainable farming. Under the Chief Minister’s Gram Urja Model, biogas units will be installed in 2.5 lakh rural households across the state. The scheme will kick off with a pilot phase in four districts—Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Gonda—where 2,250 household biogas units will be set up initially.

Each biogas plant is estimated to cost Rs 39,300. However, under the scheme, farmers will contribute only Rs 3,990, with the remaining cost subsidized through a combination of government funding and a carbon credit model.

This cost-sharing structure was outlined by Shyam Bihari Gupta, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Cow Service Commission.

The initiative is expected to cut rural LPG consumption by up to 70%, leading to significant savings on household fuel expenses. Beyond cooking fuel, the biogas units will produce organic slurry, which can be used as natural fertilizer—helping reduce dependence on chemical inputs in agriculture. Officials also noted that in the future, biogas may be refined for use as vehicle fuel, opening up further opportunities for rural energy diversification.

In a complementary move, cowsheds or the gaushalas will be constructed under the MGNREGA scheme. In the first phase, 43 gaushalas will house operational biogas and organic fertilizer units. Each unit is projected to produce around 50 quintals of slurry per month, offering an additional income stream for local farmers.

By integrating clean energy with agricultural sustainability, the initiative aims to transform rural energy access and promote eco-friendly practices across Uttar Pradesh.

Recently, UP’s first bio-CNG plant has been operationalised in Prayagraj. India’s biggest compressed biogas (CBG) project will be brought online this year in Barsana. In December, 2024, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the state government’s plans to set up compressed biogas plants using cow dung, where the Uttar Pradesh government would be offering land among other incentives.