Kerala company to lease out biogas plants

Thiruvananthapuram: Biogas plants will soon be available on lease, not here but Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. The anaerobic digester technology they use is, however, from Thiruvananthapuram – CSIR-NIIST, Pappanamcode. The Pune-based company Mailhem-Ikos will scale up the CSIR-NIIST design and lease it out for three years to buildings, its CEO Sameer Rege said.

The NIIST design, with a 400-litre capacity, can take in a maximum of 3 kg waste daily and produce cooking gas worth three hours, according to V. B. Manilal, who with his team at CSIR-NIIST developed the technology. The company plans to make models which can take in up to 15 kg biodegradable waste.

The gas produced by the unit contains more than 70% methane, says Mr Manilal.  “In other technologies, the methane content is less than 60% methane," he said. “Another advantage is that you can put lemon peels, onions and anything that is biodegradable, as degradation is highly efficient in this case. Since no water needs to be added, the slurry would be less, and there’s little chance of mosquito breeding,” he says. A Poojappura-resident, B. Ramdas, bought a rudimentary version of the unit three years ago, and he vouches for it. “There is no stench, and no problem of excess slurry,” he said.

The company will use the design to make 5 kg, 10 kg and 15 kg models, which will be launched by January 2017. “Initially, the product will be tested in markets we are present. Later, when the product is ready for mass manufacturing, we can perhaps make it available  in Kerala through CSIR-NIIST,” Sameer Rege said. The technology was transferred to the company on Monday by CSIR-NIIST director Ajayaghosh A. for a lump sum fee of Rs 10 lakhs and royalty of 5%. O. Rajagopal MLA and mayor V. K. Prasanth were present at the function.