Biogas offtake agreement to help curtail stubble burning in Punjab

Chandigarh, November 8, 2023: Compressed biogas developer EverEnviro Resource Management Pvt Ltd has signed compressed biogas offtake agreements with Torrent Gas to be facilitated by GAIL India ltd in Punjab. The arrangement will not only generate clean fuel for the consumers but also curtail stubble burning in the state, a major cause of smog over neighbouring states and Delhi NCR.

According to the agreement, biogas will be produced by company's Sangrur RNG Pvt Ltd and Patiala RNG Private Ltd, Punjab. This agreement signed under CGD Synchronisation scheme; Punjab marks a crucial milestone in promoting sustainable energy in the state.

The esteemed partnership solidifies the commitment to transform agricultural waste into a valuable resource by producing Compressed Biogas (CBG) from paddy straw. Each plant is slated to daily produce a staggering approx. 15 tonnes per day (TPD) of Compressed Biogas/Bio CNG, capable of utilizing over 40,000 metric tonnes per plant of paddy residue annually. The production of CBG in these facilities is anticipated to reduce stubble burning in 40,000 acres of fields, thus averting emissions of fine particulate matter, and substituting fossil fuel-based emissions for end users.

Outlining the details of the agreement, Mahesh Girdhar, MD and CEO, EverEnviro Resource Management, said: "These plants are not just about sustainable energy production but represent a fundamental shift towards a circular economy. They aim to reduce waste, curb air pollution, and offer a cleaner energy source to the community."

The company's CBG facilities in these locations in Punjab serve as a source of income for approximately. 1,500 Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) per project who supply paddy straw/bales as biomass for both the plants in Sangrur and Patiala. Collectively these plants have the capacity to produce over 25,000 tonnes fermented organic manure (FOM) annually, which help enrich soil health, thus promoting regenerative agriculture. The company is executing additional CBG projects across Punjab.

Girdhar further stated that these state-of-the-art facilities offer multifaceted impact, providing a sustainable solution to agricultural waste management while bolstering the livelihood of local communities and pushing the rural economy.