Potential of Livestock Generated Biomass: Untapped Energy Source in India

Gagandeep Kaur, Yadwinder Singh Brar and D.P. Kothari
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Gagandeep Kaur: I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, 144603 Punjab, India
Yadwinder Singh Brar: I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, 144603 Punjab, India
D.P. Kothari: Ex-Vice Chancellor, VIT, Vellore, 632014 Tamil Nadu, India

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Modern economies run on the backbone of electricity as one of major factors behind industrial development. India is endowed with plenty of natural resources and the majority of electricity within the country is generated from thermal and hydro-electric plants. A few nuclear plants assist in meeting the national requirements for electricity but still many rural areas remain uncovered. As India is primarily a rural agrarian economy, providing electricity to the remote, undeveloped regions of the country remains a top priority of the government. A vital, untapped source is livestock generated biomass which to some extent has been utilized to generate electricity in small scale biogas based plants under the government's thrust on rural development. This study is a preliminary attempt to correlate developments in this arena in the Asian region, as well as the developed world, to explore the possibilities of harnessing this resource in a better manner. The current potential of 2600 million tons of livestock dung generated per year, capable of yielding 263,702 million m 3 of biogas is exploited. Our estimates suggest that if this resource is utilized judiciously, it possesses the potential of generating 477 TWh (Terawatt hour) of electrical energy per annum.

Keywords: biogas; cows dung; electrical energy; India; livestock (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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