ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Turning Waste into Resources
Debendra Chandra Baruah
Professor, Department of Energy &
Director, Centre for Multidisciplinary Research, Tezpur University
Director (Honorary), TRCATS LLP
Energy recovery routes from waste
Conversion Method Salient Points Output Products
Thermochemical Methods
Converts biomass into a syngas (mixture of hydrogen, carbon
Gasification Syngas (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc.)
monoxide, and other gases) through partial oxidation.
Yields biochar, bio-oil, and syngas by heating biomass in the
Pyrolysis Biochar, bio-oil, and syngas
absence of oxygen.
Liquefaction Produces bio-oil (similar to crude oil) from biomass. Bio-oil
Biochemical Methods
Breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Biogas (mainly methane and carbon dioxide)
Commonly used for treating organic waste.
Alcoholic Fermentation Converts sugars into bioethanol (alcohol) using microorganisms. Bioethanol
Utilizes enzymes to break down biomass components into
Enzyme-Based Processes Biofuels
biofuels.
Biohydrogen Production Microorganisms produce hydrogen gas from organic matter. Hydrogen gas
Mechanical/Physical Methods
Shredding, grinding, or milling biomass to increase surface area.
Palletization Drying removes moisture from biomass which is then compacted Biomass pellets used for thermal application
into pellets for easier handling and transportation.
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata 2
Biogas: A prospective route for Energy and Resource recovery from waste
12-120 kg of N, 6-90 kg
of P and 12-60 kg of K
fertilizer generated per
month
Employment for 6-8 Emission reduction
people ~1800 kg in comparison
to LPG per month
50 m3 Cow dung based Replaces 40-45 LPG
plant cylinders per month
Emission reduction
12-15 at plant site ~60000 kg in comparison
40-50 people at feedstock supply to Petrol ~63000 kg in
side comparison to Diesel per
month
12600-25500 kg of
N, 3750-6750 kg of P
and 9000-14250 kg
Cow dung and MSW (50:50) Replaces 83000-84000 liters
of K fertilizer
based 2 TPD BioCNG plant of petrol and 70000-71000
generated per month
Biomass waste liters of diesel per month
*Values subject to change with feedstock type and conversion technology design
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 3
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Current practice at Tezpur University for biogas production and Livelihood generation
Eatery on wheel powered by biogas
Biogas Plant (50 m3 Shakti Surabhi) (average 1kg/day LPG equivalent biogas)
converts 200-250 kg/day of waste into 5-12
kg/day of LPG equivalent gas
Locally available feedstock
• Mikania Micrantha
• Rice water
• Kitchen waste
• Rice Straw
• Napier Organic Farming
• Cow dung (250-500 kg/year of organic vegetable)
Around 13% of the daily waste
produced on the campus is
utilized for biogas conversion
Digestate (50-60 l/day)
Vermicomposting unit
(300 kg/month of solid organic fertilizer)
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation” 4
04/12/2024 02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Business Model
Biogas plant Zero Energy storage Jibika Value added products from
tank(ZES) Indigenously design eatery on the digestate
Feedstock- Locally available wheel powered by biogas
waste material Indigenously designed to Revenue Generation
segregate the solid and Cost involved- • Vermicompost
Cost Involved- liquid parts from the • Installation cost • Organic vegetables
• Installation cost digestate • Maintenance cost • Mushroom cultivation
• Operational cost- One Revenue Generation- • Liquid fertilizer
skilled manpower Cost Involved- • Clean cooking fuel
• Installation cost • Selling biogas in other
ventures
₹ ₹ ₹ ₹ ₹
Income
Profitable Business Plan ₹ ₹ ₹ ₹ ₹
Expense
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 5
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
A viable rural entrepreneurship
Jan-Feb,2024 (34 days of working)
Clean cooking fuel
Utilizing 33kg of LPG equivalent biogas
(equivalent to two LPG cylinders) for thermal
energy demand.
Greenhouse gas emission reduced by 98 kg
CO2e during the period.
Waste management
Transforming around 6 tonnes of organic
waste into biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer
(Rs. 40,000 savings in waste management
expenditure during the period)
Livelihood generation
The Jibika venture records a total of Rs.
31,000 in sales
This venture generates 75kg of organic
vegetable as a value-added product
from the digestate.
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 6
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Leverage over other enterprises
1 male+ 2 Female pigs
2 Cows
2 cubic meter
1000 units carp
1000 birds
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 7
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Comparative analysis of income of rural enterprises
Sl. HBS HBS
Particulars Dairy Piggery Poultry Fishery
No. (with subsidy) (without subsidy)
1 Life cycle of the enterprise, years 6 2 1 1 25 25
Fixed cost on farm (animals/birds/fish/input
2 feedstock), INR 80000 6000 25000 15000 11300 22300
Levelized annual cost of fixed expenditure
3 (LACFE) 13333 3000 25000 15000 452 892
Annual running cost (RC) on feedstock and
4 care, INR 61887 23850 106000 60200 3285 3285
5 Annual income from sale of produce(s), INR 260670 61000 237500 120000 53650 53650
6 Income/RC 4.2 2.6 2.2 2.0 16.3 16.3
7 Income/(RC+LACFE) 3.5 2.3 1.8 1.6 14.4 12.8
8 Annual savings, INR 118783 31150 106500 44800 39065 28065
Note: Levelized annual cost of fixed expenditure (LACFE) is the ratio of fixed costs (FC) to life cycle of the enterprise
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 8
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
The prospect of HBS as a viable rural enterprise
Rankings for the enterprises based on NPV Comparison based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Rank Enterprise NPV (INR) Sl.
Enterprise Relevant SDG
No.
1 Dairy 1475678 1 Dairy, Piggery, SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Poultry
2 Poultry 803302
2 Biogas SDG 5: Gender Equality
3 HBS (with subsidy) 419430 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Biogas
contributes
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy to 5 of the
4 HBS (without subsidy) 410932 SDGs in
India
SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production
5 Fishery 317790
SDG 13: Climate Action
6 Piggery 274147 3 Fishery SDG 14: Life Below Water
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
04/12/2024 9
02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
Technology Application GAP - TAG
Methane production - complex
Performance evaluation and monitoring prime requirements - Accurate and chemical phenomena
precise information of Failed plants are not available - Reasons of non-functional
biogas plants
inadequate feedstock, faulty construction, lack of interest - alternative available, Temperature pH
maintenance - not user friendly, increased labour cost
Feedstock – size, Nutritional
Primary use -Cooking fuel – None of the recommended design assure composition status
production of biogas for all the meals throughout the year
• Seasonal fluctuation of gas production (temperature control)
• Seasonal variations of feedstock (Blended standard feedstock – lignin ?)
• Flame not as good as LPG (remove & capture CO2) Toxic
Concentration substances
of minerals
Recovery of nutrients and prevention of air/water
pollution is not focused (Zero loss)
Design
Available standards (BIS) are limited – feedstock, Flow
organic fertilizer, other accessories , new design
The after installation support is critical for customer confidence
• Essences of a business model is missing
ATAL 6-Day FDP on “Waste to Wealth Innovation”
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02-07 December, 2024, NITTTR Kolkata
