BioGas for Bangladesh
BANGLADESH is one of the low energy consuming countries of the world. At present, the per capita energy consumption is 220 kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe). The national grid could so far cover only 35 per cent of the total population, and only three per cent people are enjoying piped gas supply. About 70 per cent people of Bangladesh live in rural areas, where the situation is worse. As a result, rural to urban migration is high in Bangladesh.
In the rural areas, the houses are scattered. Neither grid nor piped supply is suitable for those areas. Decentralised supply systems like solar, biogas; wind, etc. have no alternative. About 90 per cent of the electricity now produced in the country is based on natural gas, which has limited reserves and will be exhausted in the near future.
It means that when our gas reserves are exhausted there will be no electricity. To face this grave situation, finding alternative or renewable sources of energy is the only option. Biogas technology may be one of those.
Bangladesh has a wonderful climate for biogas production. The ideal temperature for biogas is around 35C. The temperature in Bangladesh usually varies from 6C to 40C. But the inside temperature of a biogas digester remains at 22C-30C, which is very near to the optimum requirement.
Raw materials for biogas are easily and cheaply available everywhere. All the hazardous materials that pollute the environment spread bad smell and diseases are raw materials for a biogas plant. Biogas is produced through fermentation of organic matter in an anaerobic condition. So, the process does not only produce gas, but also kills all harmful bacteria.
It is decentralised and appropriate for the rural areas, where neither piped gas supply nor grid electricity supply is possible. Biogas has multiple advantages. It can meet the need for both gas and electricity. At the same time, it gives valuable organic fertiliser. Biogas is an old technology invented by Alexandra Volta in 1776 in Com, Italy.
He collected gas from the bubbles coming up due to stirring of organic sediments deposited at the bottom of an old pond and discovered its combustibility. The technology was at the research stage for many years and got momentum only after the fuel crisis in 1973.
At present, it is widely used in many countries including China, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand etc. There are now about 20 million biogas plants in China, four million plants in India, and about 0.16 million plants in Nepal.
In Bangladesh, the first biogas plant was set up by Dr MA Karim, a professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, in the University campus in 1972. It was a floating dome type plant of 3m3 gas production capacity.
Subsequently, seeing the success of the plant, five more plants were constructed in the surroundings. These plants did not last long due to leakage in the domes.
In 1974, the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (Bard) constructed one biogas plant following the same design. The Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) constructed another plant in the campus of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in 1976, followed by a plant at the KBM College in Dinajpur in 1980.
As the construction costs were high and no subsidy was available, the technology did not have any attraction for the common people. In 1981, the government established a department named Environment Pollution Control Department (EPCD), through which they started a programme at a cost of 3.4 million takas.
Under the project, about 150 floating-dome and 110 fixed-dome plants were installed until 1984. The floating-dome plants initially worked successfully, but did not last long due to lack of after-sale service and leakage in the gasholder. The fixed dome plants did not work even for a day due to design fault. This has created negative impact among the common people as well as the policymakers.
During this period, at the initiative of the then chairman of BSCIC, Mr Sirajuddin, some engineers of the organisation were trained with technical support from BCSIR, and constructed 92 plants. The Department of Livestock (DLS) also trained many of its engineers on biogas technology and constructed about 70 plants by 1990.
Some NGOs like Danida, Brac and Grameen Bank took initiatives to popularise the technology. These NGOs, with technical support from BCSIR, constructed about 250 biogas plants in districts of Bangladesh including, 17 bag type digesters by Grameen Bank.
These plants also did not last long. Under the “Fuel Saving Project” implemented from 1989 to 1991, IFRD trained local youths who constructed 126 plants in the premises of well-to-do farmers. The gasholder was supplied free of cost. The plants were floating-dome type, but they did not last long.
LGED constructed their first floating-dome model biogas plant in Kurigram district, and arranged a seminar there on December 27, 1986. About 300 scientists, experts, engineers, politicians, and persons interested in biogas technology joined the seminar.
Until 1992, they constructed 7-8 plants following the same design. The plants initially worked successfully, but after 4-5 years went out of order due to leakage in the gasholder, pipeline, and burner.
In 1989, one scientist named Mr Shamsul Hoque of BCSIR received training on biogas technology from Biogas Research and Training Centre (BRTC), Chengdu, China. After coming back, he constructed one fixed-dome Chinese model biogas plant at BCSIR campus.
Till today, the plant is working successfully. Following the design, one LGED engineer constructed two biogas plants in Noakhali in 1992, with financial support from Danida. These plants are still in operation.
Subsequently, one engineer of LGED and Mr. Shamsul Hoque of BCSIR constructed about 50 fixed-dome type biogas plants in different districts at the cost of the users, and thus the fixed dome model biogas plant was introduced in Bangladesh.
LGED, under Slum Improvement Project and Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project, constructed about 100 plants during the period 1992-1996. A MoU was signed between BCSIR and LGED in 1993, and about 70 engineers have been trained under the agreement.
In 1994, LGED supported the establishment of an ecological village (Amgram in Madaripur district), and constructed 15 domestic biogas plants using night soil, kitchen waste, water hyacinth etc.
An important distribution push was delivered by the “Biogas Pilot Plant (1st phase) Project” implemented by BCSIR in the period July 1995 to June 2000. In total 4,664 fixed-dome plants were constructed throughout the country.
BCSIR employed and trained 128 diploma civil engineers who were assigned responsibilities for motivation, installation, and after sales service throughout the country. In addition, 898 youths were trained to support the project. The biogas farmers received an investment subsidy of Taka 5,000 under the project.
MoUs were signed between BCSIR and several other institutes like Brac, LGED and DLS for research, training, and dissemination of the biogas technology. An interim evaluation report in 1999 reported that 99 per cent of the plants installed under the project were in operation, while 91 per cent of the owners could meet their household fuel demand through biogas.
Bio-slurry from the biogas plants was used in horticulture, pisciculture, and agriculture. The average saving per plant amounted to Taka 759 per month (BCSIR, June 2001).
As the 1st phase was successfully completed, and the potential for biogas in Bangladesh considered huge, BCSIR implemented the 2nd phase of the Biogas Pilot Plant in the period July 2000 to June 2004.
The target for this phase was put at 20,000 biogas plants, out of which 17,194 plants were finally built. The investment subsidy for the owner was increased to Taka 7,500 per plant. In addition to the diploma civil engineers employed and paid on a monthly basis by BCSIR, an agency system was introduced on incentive basis.
About 50 agencies were recognised in defined areas (mostly districts), and received a lump sum fee of Taka 5,000 per plant as service charge. About 128 engineers and 250 local youths were trained for 10 days under the project. About 1,000 masons have been trained as well.
In 1994, the government of Bangladesh created a public limited company named Infrastructure Development Company (IDCOL) with financial assistance from the World Bank to support all kinds of infrastructure development, with focus on energy related infrastructure.
They successfully established 450 MW power plants at Meghna Ghat, installed 125,000 solar home systems since 2003 and, recently, with support from Netherlands Development Cooperation (SNV), launched a project for the extension of biogas technology in Bangladesh.
Under the programme, 36,450 biogas plants will be built by the year 2009. 16 partner organisations have been identified for the implementation of the project. By now, they have constructed about 2000 plants.
Referance :
Grameen Shakti (GS), a member of the Grameen family, incorporated in 1996 as a “not for profit company” to promote, develop, and popularise renewable energy technologies in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh. The Daily Star/ANN
http://writingaboutanything.wordpress.com/category/bio-gas-for-bangladesh/
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| BioGas for Bangladesh |
BANGLADESH is one of the low energy consuming countries of the world. At present, the per capita energy consumption is 220 kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe). The national grid could so far cover only 35 per cent of the total population, and only three per cent people are enjoying piped gas supply. About 70 per cent people of Bangladesh live in rural areas, where the situation is worse. As a result, rural to urban migration is high in Bangladesh.
In the rural areas, the houses are scattered. Neither grid nor piped supply is suitable for those areas. Decentralised supply systems like solar, biogas; wind, etc. have no alternative. About 90 per cent of the electricity now produced in the country is based on natural gas, which has limited reserves and will be exhausted in the near future.
It means that when our gas reserves are exhausted there will be no electricity. To face this grave situation, finding alternative or renewable sources of energy is the only option. Biogas technology may be one of those.
Bangladesh has a wonderful climate for biogas production. The ideal temperature for biogas is around 35C. The temperature in Bangladesh usually varies from 6C to 40C. But the inside temperature of a biogas digester remains at 22C-30C, which is very near to the optimum requirement.
Raw materials for biogas are easily and cheaply available everywhere. All the hazardous materials that pollute the environment spread bad smell and diseases are raw materials for a biogas plant. Biogas is produced through fermentation of organic matter in an anaerobic condition. So, the process does not only produce gas, but also kills all harmful bacteria.
It is decentralised and appropriate for the rural areas, where neither piped gas supply nor grid electricity supply is possible. Biogas has multiple advantages. It can meet the need for both gas and electricity. At the same time, it gives valuable organic fertiliser. Biogas is an old technology invented by Alexandra Volta in 1776 in Com, Italy.
He collected gas from the bubbles coming up due to stirring of organic sediments deposited at the bottom of an old pond and discovered its combustibility. The technology was at the research stage for many years and got momentum only after the fuel crisis in 1973.
At present, it is widely used in many countries including China, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand etc. There are now about 20 million biogas plants in China, four million plants in India, and about 0.16 million plants in Nepal.
In Bangladesh, the first biogas plant was set up by Dr MA Karim, a professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, in the University campus in 1972. It was a floating dome type plant of 3m3 gas production capacity.
Subsequently, seeing the success of the plant, five more plants were constructed in the surroundings. These plants did not last long due to leakage in the domes.
In 1974, the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (Bard) constructed one biogas plant following the same design. The Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) constructed another plant in the campus of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in 1976, followed by a plant at the KBM College in Dinajpur in 1980.
As the construction costs were high and no subsidy was available, the technology did not have any attraction for the common people. In 1981, the government established a department named Environment Pollution Control Department (EPCD), through which they started a programme at a cost of 3.4 million takas.
Under the project, about 150 floating-dome and 110 fixed-dome plants were installed until 1984. The floating-dome plants initially worked successfully, but did not last long due to lack of after-sale service and leakage in the gasholder. The fixed dome plants did not work even for a day due to design fault. This has created negative impact among the common people as well as the policymakers.
During this period, at the initiative of the then chairman of BSCIC, Mr Sirajuddin, some engineers of the organisation were trained with technical support from BCSIR, and constructed 92 plants. The Department of Livestock (DLS) also trained many of its engineers on biogas technology and constructed about 70 plants by 1990.
Some NGOs like Danida, Brac and Grameen Bank took initiatives to popularise the technology. These NGOs, with technical support from BCSIR, constructed about 250 biogas plants in districts of Bangladesh including, 17 bag type digesters by Grameen Bank.
These plants also did not last long. Under the “Fuel Saving Project” implemented from 1989 to 1991, IFRD trained local youths who constructed 126 plants in the premises of well-to-do farmers. The gasholder was supplied free of cost. The plants were floating-dome type, but they did not last long.
LGED constructed their first floating-dome model biogas plant in Kurigram district, and arranged a seminar there on December 27, 1986. About 300 scientists, experts, engineers, politicians, and persons interested in biogas technology joined the seminar.
Until 1992, they constructed 7-8 plants following the same design. The plants initially worked successfully, but after 4-5 years went out of order due to leakage in the gasholder, pipeline, and burner.
In 1989, one scientist named Mr Shamsul Hoque of BCSIR received training on biogas technology from Biogas Research and Training Centre (BRTC), Chengdu, China. After coming back, he constructed one fixed-dome Chinese model biogas plant at BCSIR campus.
Till today, the plant is working successfully. Following the design, one LGED engineer constructed two biogas plants in Noakhali in 1992, with financial support from Danida. These plants are still in operation.
Subsequently, one engineer of LGED and Mr. Shamsul Hoque of BCSIR constructed about 50 fixed-dome type biogas plants in different districts at the cost of the users, and thus the fixed dome model biogas plant was introduced in Bangladesh.
LGED, under Slum Improvement Project and Secondary Towns Infrastructure Development Project, constructed about 100 plants during the period 1992-1996. A MoU was signed between BCSIR and LGED in 1993, and about 70 engineers have been trained under the agreement.
In 1994, LGED supported the establishment of an ecological village (Amgram in Madaripur district), and constructed 15 domestic biogas plants using night soil, kitchen waste, water hyacinth etc.
An important distribution push was delivered by the “Biogas Pilot Plant (1st phase) Project” implemented by BCSIR in the period July 1995 to June 2000. In total 4,664 fixed-dome plants were constructed throughout the country.
BCSIR employed and trained 128 diploma civil engineers who were assigned responsibilities for motivation, installation, and after sales service throughout the country. In addition, 898 youths were trained to support the project. The biogas farmers received an investment subsidy of Taka 5,000 under the project.
MoUs were signed between BCSIR and several other institutes like Brac, LGED and DLS for research, training, and dissemination of the biogas technology. An interim evaluation report in 1999 reported that 99 per cent of the plants installed under the project were in operation, while 91 per cent of the owners could meet their household fuel demand through biogas.
Bio-slurry from the biogas plants was used in horticulture, pisciculture, and agriculture. The average saving per plant amounted to Taka 759 per month (BCSIR, June 2001).
As the 1st phase was successfully completed, and the potential for biogas in Bangladesh considered huge, BCSIR implemented the 2nd phase of the Biogas Pilot Plant in the period July 2000 to June 2004.
The target for this phase was put at 20,000 biogas plants, out of which 17,194 plants were finally built. The investment subsidy for the owner was increased to Taka 7,500 per plant. In addition to the diploma civil engineers employed and paid on a monthly basis by BCSIR, an agency system was introduced on incentive basis.
About 50 agencies were recognised in defined areas (mostly districts), and received a lump sum fee of Taka 5,000 per plant as service charge. About 128 engineers and 250 local youths were trained for 10 days under the project. About 1,000 masons have been trained as well.
In 1994, the government of Bangladesh created a public limited company named Infrastructure Development Company (IDCOL) with financial assistance from the World Bank to support all kinds of infrastructure development, with focus on energy related infrastructure.
They successfully established 450 MW power plants at Meghna Ghat, installed 125,000 solar home systems since 2003 and, recently, with support from Netherlands Development Cooperation (SNV), launched a project for the extension of biogas technology in Bangladesh.
Under the programme, 36,450 biogas plants will be built by the year 2009. 16 partner organisations have been identified for the implementation of the project. By now, they have constructed about 2000 plants.
Referance :
Grameen Shakti (GS), a member of the Grameen family, incorporated in 1996 as a “not for profit company” to promote, develop, and popularise renewable energy technologies in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh. The Daily Star/ANN
http://writingaboutanything.wordpress.com/category/bio-gas-for-bangladesh/
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