IndiGlobal Bureau
Noida-based start-up, Gruner Renewable Energy (GRE) has inked a deal with German firm BioEnergy. BioEnergy has competence in providing engineering design for biomass-based gas plants.
Gruner Renewable Energy has secured 42 firm contracts for building biogas plants, with many more being in the offering. Under the business model, Gruner Renewable will construct a customised biogas plant for clients utilising BioEnergy's design, and buy back the gas.
Utkarsh Gupta, founder & CEO, Gruner Renewable Energy said, “that a typical plant of 40-50 tons-per-day of feedstock will cost about ₹15 crore to set up, and will yield two-three tonnes of gas per day. A tonne of biomass will yield about 90 cubic metres of gas.”
The 20-year-old BioEnergy has built over 300 plants in 12 countries and is currently building the world’s biggest one, in Malawi in southern Africa (where the gas will fuel a 56 MW power plant). Gupta said that he was confident that Gruner Renewable would engender the setting up of at least 100 biogas plants in 2023, given the government’s plan to have 5,000 such plants by 2024.
Challenges
The price of feedstock and its availability at a consistent pace is a challenge but BioEnergy-designed plants could handle a mix of fuels. Experts said that Napier grass could come top the rescue as it grows fast and can be harvested four times a year. Mr Gupta said that one would need 80-90 acres of land to grow Napier grass for a 40-tons-per-day biogas plant. Agri-residues, such as rice straw, could be co- fired with Napier grass. Managing Director, Dr Nils Rottmann, BioEnergy said, “there are about 10,000 different species of bacteria in the digestor. Only about 10 per cent of them are active on a particular feedstock; if the feedstock changes, another group of bacteria takes over as the dominant species.”