Varsity inks pact for straw-based biogas plant commercialisation

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has inked a pact with Panj Aab Bio Fuel & Fertilizers Private Limited, Ludhiana, for the commercialisation of a paddy straw-based biogas plant made up of mild steel (MS) sheet (above the ground) technology. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, Ludhiana, and Ravi Inder Singh, Director, Panj Aab Bio Fuel & Fertilizers Private Limited, signed the memorandum of agreement (MoA) on behalf of their respective organisations. Dr Manjeet Singh, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, and Navjot Singh, CFO, Panj Aab Bio Fuel & Fertilizers Private Limited, were also present on the occasion.

Dr Dhatt congratulated Dr Sarbjit Singh Sooch, Head-cum-Principal Scientist, Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, for the commercialisation of this technology. Dr Sooch said paddy straw could be digested by anaerobic means for the production of biogas as a fuel for kitchen use as well as for power generation. The latest method of anaerobic digestion, ie, dry fermentation of organic wastes can be carried out, which requires little labour and produces biogas for a period of three months. The digested material from such anaerobic digestion is quality manure, ready for use in fields, he added.

Dr Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director, Technology Marketing and IPR Cell, PAU, stated that the PAU technologies were promoting sustainability and touching the lives of common citizens through the process of commercialisation. He stated that efforts were being made for a fast-paced transfer of technologies from labs to fields.s