Abstracto

Existing Household Biogas Technology and Its Ground Realities in Rural India

G. S. Jadhav , K. R Takale, H. M. Sanklecha , A. S. Shinde , P. T. Mandhare and S. B. Pasalkar

Sustainable economic and industrial growth of nation requires safe, sustainable resources of energy. This paper reviews household biogas technology ground realities in rural India and investigates challenges facing in operation of existing household biogas plants. It further captures the current status and functions of biogas plants as well as the impact of these plants on the people who use them. The study was done by surveying fifty (50) household biogas installations from hilly rural border area of pune and satara districts of Maharashtra state, India, and conducting interviews with plant users. From the survey, it was observed that 20 % installations were Fixed-dome and 80 % were floating dome. It was revealed that subsidy was the main motivational reason for construction of biogas plant, whereas subsidy was the motivational reason for using biogas plant. Out of 50 plants, 26 (52%) were functioning satisfactorily, 5(10%) functioning but defective where as 19 (38 %) were not functioning. Reasons for non-functioning include nonavailability of cow dung for feed, breakdown of structure, leakage of gas holder due to corrosion, absence of maintenance services, lack of operational knowledge.