Ludhiana: Taking a major step to promote renewable energy, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has signed three Memoranda of Agreements (MoAs) for biogas plant-based technologies with firms from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, reports The Tribune.
Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research at PAU, signed the agreements in the presence of key officials, including Dr Mahesh Kumar, Additional Director of Research (Agricultural Engineering); Dr Manjeet Singh, Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology; and Dr Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director of the Technology Marketing and IPR Cell.
Dr. Dhatt congratulated Dr. Sarbjit Singh Sooch, Head-cum-Principal Scientist of the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, for successfully commercializing several biogas technologies. PAU’s Paddy Straw-based Biogas Plant, constructed using mild steel, has been commercialized 19 times. Additionally, the PAU Fixed Dome Type Janta Model Biogas Plant and the PAU Fixed Dome Family Size Biogas Plant have been commercialized 22 and 13 times, respectively.
Highlighting the university’s outreach, Dr Khushdeep Dharni shared that PAU’s biogas technologies have been commercialized 54 times across 10 states, including Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.
Dr. Sooch explained that paddy straw can be effectively used in anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, which can be utilized for cooking and power generation. He also introduced the concept of dry fermentation of organic waste, a process that requires minimal labour and generates biogas for up to three months. The residual material from this process serves as high-quality manure, ready for use in fields.
