Environment and Renewable Energy 

Biogas Plants (4000 plants, 1991-2015)

Over the course of 25 years, SVCT constructed 4000 biogas plants in the Srikakulam District. Typical households in the area have 4-6 cattle, which generate considerable amounts of waste. Biogas plants convert this domestic and cattle waste into manure and energy, which reduces the amount of organic material that would otherwise go to landfills and release greenhouse gasses (such as methane). SVCT conducted periodic inspections and training, actively involved women in the program, and helped with maintenance. Ultimately, these plants created a reliable source of renewable energy and empowered the community to sustainably manage their own waste. This project was funded by the Action for Food Production (AFPRO) and the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP).

Why Biogas Plants?

Dung from farmers’ backyard cattle ranches, typically left in open fields to turn into manure, can be effectively utilized in biogas plants to reduce organic waste that would otherwise go to landfills and produce methane. Biogas, a renewable energy source, can be used to generate fuel for domestic cooking purposes, with residues serving as fertilizer and compost. By capturing methane and other greenhouse gases, biogas plants help mitigate the greenhouse effect and enable clean energy production without harmful emissions or waste. Traditionally, households with 4-6 cattle generated considerable dung, which SVCT leveraged, by educating farmers on building and maintaining biogas plants with the help of government funding initiatives. Beyond constructing plants, SVCT established a community ecosystem through periodic inspections, training, education on plant construction and maintenance, demonstrations, and slurry utilization in farmers’ fields. Through their active participation in these programs, women were empowered socially and economically.

A 1992-93 evaluation study was conducted by AFPRO in three clusters with 226 working units and approximately 750 cattle. This study highlighted the program’s accomplishments. These included providing energy fuel for 226 households, converting 1,148 tons of cow dung into compost, and saving an estimated 26 tons of urea, 30 tons of superphosphate, and 8 tons of potash fertilizers over the assumed 25-year lifespan of the plants. The program also generated direct employment of approximately 6,780 man-days, with 50% of the workforce being women. Furthermore, the biogas program saved 268 tons of firewood and 252 liters of liquefied fuel annually. The byproduct slurry from biogas plants was utilized to produce compost and manure, further enhancing the sustainability and productivity of farm fields.