Sistema.Bio plans 25,000 biogas units in Telangana, AP in two years
By : B Krishna Mohan
Update: 2024-05-23 02:21 GMT
Sistema.Bio, which is into manufacturing and distribution of biodigesters that enable smallholder farmers to convert waste into biogas and biofertilizer, is now working with more than 75,000 farmers across the country. It has a capacity to make more than 9,000 biodigestors per month. It has about 4,500 installations in the two Telugu States and plans are on to expand further, Atul Mittal, commercial director, Sistema.bio tells in an interaction with B. Krishna Mohan.
Here are the excerpts:
Problem being solved
We are a biogas company and have products that cater to small-scale farmers with three or four cattle. The ownership of these cattle ensures a consistent daily supply of dung and eliminates the need for external procurement or arrangements. We prioritise installing biogas plants for these farmers. By installing our biogas plants, the farmers can get up to four hours of clean cooking gas daily. The installation also produces over 100 litre bio-fertiliser. This cuts reliance on chemical fertilizers, reduces operational costs and fosters smart agricultural practices.
Focus on TS, AP
We have about 4,500 installations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh out of the total 80,000 installations in the country. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh serve as focal points due to their significant dairy industries. We will be building upon past endeavours, which include partnerships with universities, private entities, and cooperative dairies. We have set our sights on deploying approximately 25,000 units in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the next two years. These installations will be carried out in collaborations with focus on local partnerships.
Costs for farmers
We do understand that small farmers have limited financial resources and may lack sufficient disposable income to invest in the biogas infrastructure. Our smallest biogas plant, with a capacity of 2 cubic metres that yields three to four hours of clean cooking fuel, will cost about Rs 36,000. We devise financing mechanisms to increase adoption of biogas technology. We engage with companies to secure support under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. We offer price subsidies to farmers, reducing their financial burden to between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000. We are exploring carbon financing strategies, wherein a significant 80-85% of the total cost, will be covered through carbon credits. Consequently, farmers will be required to contribute about Rs 6,000-7,000 towards the total cost. Over the past five years, we have identified this approach as the most effective means to promote biogas plant adoption. Given the nascent trust levels associated with the biogas segment, stemming from historical apprehensions among farmers, we want to restore confidence in the biogas technology.
Savings
The transition to biogas has benefits. Adoption of biofertilizers reduces use of chemical fertilizers. Over a two-crop cycle, the savings are significant. Even the smallest biogas plants can produce upwards of 100 litre liquid fertilizer daily, sufficient to nourish five to six acres of land, which is more than what most small farmers have. Consequently, there is also an opportunity to sell this surplus biofertilizer to neighbouring farms. We train farmers on storing and transporting liquid slurry.
Maintenance of units
The construction and design of our product incorporates a plastic feeding tank. The dung-water mixture is channelled into the biogas reactor, where the microbial activity occurs and the biogas is released. This biogas is directed via piping to the kitchen. The design is devoid of motors and moving components, ensuring longevity and reliability over time. Apart from the daily replenishing no additional maintenance is required.
Integration
Our biogas plants process animal feed and food waste materials. However, our systems are not configured to process agricultural waste, which is a more complex process and needs incorporation of two or three additional components. Our focus remains on utilisation of animal waste alongside a modest proportion of food waste. LPG operates at high pressures, travelling swiftly through small pipes, with burner tops specifically designed to accommodate such pressure. In contrast, biogas is delivered to the kitchen at significantly lower pressures. Consequently, a single cookstove cannot accommodate both LPG and biogas inputs simultaneously.
Migration impact
Yes, the challenge at hand is undeniable. However, our efforts are focused on monitoring dairy operations. It is pertinent to note that a considerable number of farmers have relinquished their cattle for various reasons.
Here are the excerpts:
Problem being solved
We are a biogas company and have products that cater to small-scale farmers with three or four cattle. The ownership of these cattle ensures a consistent daily supply of dung and eliminates the need for external procurement or arrangements. We prioritise installing biogas plants for these farmers. By installing our biogas plants, the farmers can get up to four hours of clean cooking gas daily. The installation also produces over 100 litre bio-fertiliser. This cuts reliance on chemical fertilizers, reduces operational costs and fosters smart agricultural practices.
Focus on TS, AP
We have about 4,500 installations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh out of the total 80,000 installations in the country. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh serve as focal points due to their significant dairy industries. We will be building upon past endeavours, which include partnerships with universities, private entities, and cooperative dairies. We have set our sights on deploying approximately 25,000 units in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the next two years. These installations will be carried out in collaborations with focus on local partnerships.
Costs for farmers
We do understand that small farmers have limited financial resources and may lack sufficient disposable income to invest in the biogas infrastructure. Our smallest biogas plant, with a capacity of 2 cubic metres that yields three to four hours of clean cooking fuel, will cost about Rs 36,000. We devise financing mechanisms to increase adoption of biogas technology. We engage with companies to secure support under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. We offer price subsidies to farmers, reducing their financial burden to between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000. We are exploring carbon financing strategies, wherein a significant 80-85% of the total cost, will be covered through carbon credits. Consequently, farmers will be required to contribute about Rs 6,000-7,000 towards the total cost. Over the past five years, we have identified this approach as the most effective means to promote biogas plant adoption. Given the nascent trust levels associated with the biogas segment, stemming from historical apprehensions among farmers, we want to restore confidence in the biogas technology.
Savings
The transition to biogas has benefits. Adoption of biofertilizers reduces use of chemical fertilizers. Over a two-crop cycle, the savings are significant. Even the smallest biogas plants can produce upwards of 100 litre liquid fertilizer daily, sufficient to nourish five to six acres of land, which is more than what most small farmers have. Consequently, there is also an opportunity to sell this surplus biofertilizer to neighbouring farms. We train farmers on storing and transporting liquid slurry.
Maintenance of units
The construction and design of our product incorporates a plastic feeding tank. The dung-water mixture is channelled into the biogas reactor, where the microbial activity occurs and the biogas is released. This biogas is directed via piping to the kitchen. The design is devoid of motors and moving components, ensuring longevity and reliability over time. Apart from the daily replenishing no additional maintenance is required.
Integration
Our biogas plants process animal feed and food waste materials. However, our systems are not configured to process agricultural waste, which is a more complex process and needs incorporation of two or three additional components. Our focus remains on utilisation of animal waste alongside a modest proportion of food waste. LPG operates at high pressures, travelling swiftly through small pipes, with burner tops specifically designed to accommodate such pressure. In contrast, biogas is delivered to the kitchen at significantly lower pressures. Consequently, a single cookstove cannot accommodate both LPG and biogas inputs simultaneously.
Migration impact
Yes, the challenge at hand is undeniable. However, our efforts are focused on monitoring dairy operations. It is pertinent to note that a considerable number of farmers have relinquished their cattle for various reasons.