Question : PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS

(a) the total production of biogas in the country, State-wise ;

(b) the details of non-functional /closed biogas plants in the country, State/ UT-wise along with the reasons for their non-functioning / closure; (

(c) the target set and achievements made in regard to generation of additional biogas capacity under the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) during Eleventh Five Year Plan, year-wise and State/ UT-wise;

(d) the steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Union Government for increasing biogas production including introduction of new viable technology in biogas plants under NBMMP and supplementing the efforts of the State Governments and Gram Panchayats in this regard;

(e) whether biogas plants have received carbon rebates under the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM) of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change(UNFCC) and if so , the details thereof ; and

(f) whether the energy generated from biomass plants is cheaper than solar and wind energy, if so, the details thereof and the cost of electricity per unit generated by bio -mass plant vis-à-vis that generated by solar and wind energy?

THE MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a): The estimated production of biogas is about 45.74 lakh cubic metre per day from domestic biogas plants installed under the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) and medium to large capacity biogas programmes implemented up to 31st March, 2012 in various States/ UTs by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The State/ UT wise break up of biogas production is given at Annexure-I.

(b): MNRE gets evaluation studies of biogas programme done on regular basis through an independent agency. As per the report of the last evaluation study, conducted during the year 2009-10 for the biogas plants installed under the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) during the 10th Five Year Plan period, about 95.80 percent of surveyed biogas plants were found functional in various regions of the country.

Details of the same are given in Annexure-II. The main reasons for non-functionality of remaining biogas plants are non- availability of cattle dung , shifting of beneficiaries residence, faulty construction, disinterest of beneficiaries in properly feeding and operation of biogas plants.

(c): During the Eleventh Five Year Plan a physical target of 6.47 lakh domestic biogas plants with the aim of generating about 14 lakh cubic metre of biogas per day was set under the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) . Against which , 6.08 lakh numbers of biogas plants have been set up with biogas generation of about 15.02 lakh cubic metre per day. The year-wise and State/ UT-wise details of additional biogas plants installed and biogas generation capacity created during the Eleventh Five Year Plan under NBMMP are given in Annexure-III.

(d): Regional Biogas Development and Training Centres (BDTCs) have been supported for development and testing of new models and innovative technology for biogas plants. BDTCs also supplement the efforts of State Governments and State Nodal Agencies in imparting various kinds of trainings, developing publicity materials and technical support for proper upkeep of plants and generation of biogas.

(e): Six biogas projects have been registered under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) by CDM Executive Board under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC) as on 1st August, 2012 in three States namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.

(f): The energy generated from biomass plants is cheaper than solar but at par with wind energy. The cost of generation of electricity from biomass and wind is in the range of Rs. 3.25 to Rs.4.00 per unit in comparision toRs. 8.77 per unit of electricity from solar.