Development of a Small-Scale Biogas Plant Utilizing Organic Wastes for Sustainable Biogas Production

Abstract

Pakistan faces an energy crisis due to its rapidly growing population and economy, which heavily relies on fossil fuels. The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is exploring renewable energy technologies to address the crisis. Biomass, a sustainable and easily integrated renewable energy resource, is being considered due to its environmental friendliness and ease of integration. However, deforestation has led to significant environmental deterioration in Pakistan's poor urban and rural populations. To prevent environmental degradation due to deforestation, we built a small-scale biogas plant. For this, we took 4 empty bottles of 20 liters and organic wastes capable of making gas, including eight kilograms of kitchen waste, eight kilograms of cow dung waste, eight kilograms of grass, and eight kilograms of sludge waste. Took 50% water and 50% organic waste. Mixed it thoroughly and containerized it in these bottles. Separate points of inlet and outlet were provided in bottles. These points did not release any trapped gas. These bottles were blackened so that the sun rays did not affect them. Bottles were filled with waste in the absence of oxygen. This gave 0.000182 HM3 per day from Kitchen Waste, 0.000287 HM3 from Dung Waste, 0.000087 HM3 per day from Grass, and 0.000056 HM3 per day from Sludge Waste. By using these production rates, the production of biogas for a 20-house colony is estimated to be 4.637 HM3 while their average consumption is 2.6 HM3. We have proposed an estimate of a Biogas plant along with components for this colony, and the estimated construction cost is around PKR. 500,616 is turning out quite economical, and the biogas plant shall be eco-friendly, along with minimal maintenance costs.