Tamil Nadu Village Turns Cow Dung to Electricity

Deccan Herald

12 Jul 202103:40

Summary

TLDRIn the village of Bhararajpuram, a biogas plant set up by Carbon Loop and the Thiruvalu District Rural Development Agency has transformed cow dung from waste into a valuable resource. Previously polluting the local river, cow dung is now collected and converted into electricity, powering streetlights and reducing the village's electricity costs. The project, costing ₹60 lakh, is expected to save ₹50,000 a month and plans to extend its benefits to charging electric vehicles. The leftover waste is also used as manure to support local agriculture, demonstrating an innovative approach to rural development.

Takeaways

🌍 The village of Bhararajpuram, 35-40 kilometers from Chennai, used to dump cow dung into the river, causing pollution.
💡 Cow dung is now being used to generate electricity, transforming it from waste into a valuable resource.
🚀 The biogas plant was set up by a startup called Carbon Loop in collaboration with the Thiruvalur District Rural Development Agency.
🔄 Cow dung is collected from cow shelters and cattle owners, transported to the biogas plant, and processed to create liquid, which is then converted into electricity.
🏭 The biogas plant was constructed at a cost of INR 60 lakhs, significantly reducing the village's electricity expenses by INR 50,000 monthly.
💡 All streetlights in the village are powered by electricity generated from the biogas plant.
🔋 The Panchayat plans to expand the facility to include a charging station for electric vehicles.
🌾 After generating electricity, the leftover waste is converted into manure, which is used for growing bananas and chilies.
🌱 This initiative has eliminated the issue of cow dung waste in the village while providing renewable energy and improving sanitation.
💡 The project is an innovative solution that could address specific waste management challenges in other rural areas.

Q & A

What was the traditional use of cow dung in most villages?
-Cow dung was traditionally used as manure in most villages.
What problem did the village of Bhararajpuram face with cow dung disposal?
-The village of Bhararajpuram faced a problem where people were dumping large amounts of cow dung into the river, leading to pollution.
How has the village of Bhararajpuram solved its cow dung disposal issue?
-The village has set up a biogas plant that converts cow dung into electricity, which is used to power streetlights and potentially other systems.
Which organization helped set up the biogas plant in Bhararajpuram?
-A startup named Carbon Loop, in collaboration with the Thiruvalur District Rural Development Agency, helped set up the biogas plant.
What technology is used in the biogas plant to generate electricity?
-The biogas plant uses cow dung, which is processed and converted into liquid form. This liquid is then used to generate electricity.
What benefits does the village panchayat expect from the biogas plant?
-The village panchayat expects to save around ₹50,000 per month on electricity bills after deducting maintenance charges.
How is the cow dung collected and transported to the biogas plant?
-Sanitary workers collect cow dung from cow shelters and cattle owners, transport it in baskets, and take it by van to the biogas plant.
What are some potential future uses of the electricity generated by the biogas plant?
-The panchayat has plans to set up a charging station for electric vehicles using the electricity generated by the biogas plant.
What happens to the waste after electricity and biogas are generated?
-After generating electricity and biogas, the remaining waste is converted into manure, which is used to grow bananas and chilies in nearby farmlands.
How has the biogas plant impacted the village environment?
-The village is no longer covered with cow dung, and the streets are now powered by renewable energy, improving both the cleanliness and sustainability of the area.

Outlines

00:00

💡 A Village's Shift from Cow Dung to Energy

In the village of Bhararajpuram, located 35 to 40 kilometers away from China, cow dung used to be disposed of in the river, causing pollution. However, the situation has improved, and cow dung is now being used as a valuable resource to generate electricity for the village.

🔋 Biogas Plant Powers Village with Renewable Energy

A biogas plant was established by the startup Carbon Loop in collaboration with the Thiruvallur District Rural Development Agency. This plant converts cow dung into electricity, offering a sustainable solution to waste management and energy production in the village.

🤝 Collaborative Effort to Solve Waste Problem

After hearing about the biogas technology, the district administration approached Carbon Loop to help solve the issue of cow dung disposal. The team embraced the opportunity to use the waste as renewable energy, creating a closed-loop cycle within the local panchayat.

🚛 Collecting Cow Dung for Electricity Generation

Sanitation workers in Radharajapuram panchayat collect cow dung from local cow shelters and cattle owners. They transport it in vans to the biogas plant located half a kilometer away, where it is processed and converted into liquid, then electricity.

💸 Cost and Savings from the Biogas Plant

The biogas plant cost 60 lakh rupees to build. It is expected to save the village panchayat around 50,000 rupees monthly in electricity costs after maintenance expenses are accounted for. The electricity generated powers all the village's streetlights.

🚗 Future Plans for Electric Vehicle Charging Station

In addition to powering streetlights, the village panchayat has future plans to set up an electric vehicle charging station using the electricity generated by the biogas plant. Currently, villagers are happy with the improvements, particularly the absence of cow dung in the streets.

🌱 Waste-to-Manure: Supporting Local Agriculture

After the biogas and electricity generation process, the remaining waste is converted into manure, which is then used in farmlands to grow crops such as bananas and chilies in the Thiruvallur district. This innovative approach helps address specific challenges faced by rural villages.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cow dung

Cow dung is the waste produced by cattle, commonly used as manure in agricultural practices. In the context of the video, it was previously causing pollution in the river due to improper disposal by the village of Bhararajpuram. However, with the biogas plant, it has become a valuable resource used to generate electricity for the village.

💡Bhararajpuram

Bhararajpuram is the village mentioned in the video that faced challenges related to the disposal of cow dung. It is located 35 to 40 kilometers away from a larger city. The village has a large cattle population, and the improper handling of cow dung was polluting the local river. The village has since adopted biogas technology to convert this waste into electricity.

💡Biogas plant

A biogas plant is a facility that converts organic waste, such as cow dung, into renewable energy in the form of biogas or electricity. In the video, a biogas plant was established in Bhararajpuram by the startup Carbon Loop, in collaboration with the local rural development agency. This plant transforms cow dung into electricity, helping the village power its streetlights and reduce pollution.

💡Carbon Loop

Carbon Loop is the startup that developed the technology used in the biogas plant. They collaborated with the Thiruvalu District Rural Development Agency to address the village's waste management problem by converting cow dung into renewable energy. Their efforts resulted in an eco-friendly solution that benefits the local community by providing electricity and reducing pollution.

💡Thiruvalu District Rural Development Agency

The Thiruvalu District Rural Development Agency partnered with Carbon Loop to set up the biogas plant in Bhararajpuram. The agency's involvement highlights the role of local government in supporting innovative projects aimed at sustainable development and solving community-specific challenges, such as waste management and renewable energy generation.

💡Electricity generation

Electricity generation refers to the process of converting cow dung into electrical energy through the biogas plant. In the video, this renewable energy source powers streetlights in Bhararajpuram and is expected to save the village approximately ₹50,000 per month in electricity bills, making it both economically and environmentally beneficial.

💡Closed loop cycle

A closed loop cycle is a sustainable system in which waste is continuously recycled and reused. In the video, the biogas plant exemplifies this concept by converting cow dung into electricity and biogas, and then using the remaining waste as manure for farming. This helps maintain an eco-friendly cycle within the village's panchayat.

💡Streetlights

The streetlights in Bhararajpuram are powered by the electricity generated from the biogas plant. This signifies one of the tangible outcomes of the village’s adoption of renewable energy, providing a cleaner, more efficient power source for public lighting and improving the overall infrastructure.

💡Manure

Manure refers to organic material, primarily cow dung in this case, used to fertilize soil. After electricity and biogas are generated at the plant, the remaining waste is processed into manure. In the video, this manure is used to cultivate bananas and chilies in nearby farmlands, highlighting how the system supports agriculture while reducing environmental waste.

💡Electric vehicle charging station

An electric vehicle charging station is a facility where electric vehicles (EVs) can recharge their batteries. Although not yet implemented, the village panchayat in Bhararajpuram has plans to set up such a station, powered by the biogas plant. This initiative would further promote clean energy and modernize the village's transportation infrastructure.

Highlights

Cow dung is traditionally used as manure, but in Bhararajpuram village, it's being utilized for a more innovative purpose.

Bhararajpuram is located 35 to 40 kilometers away from Chennai, with a large cattle population contributing to pollution in the local river.

Previously, cow dung was dumped into the river, polluting it. However, the situation has now changed significantly.

Cow dung has become a precious resource, as it is now used to generate electricity through a biogas plant.

The biogas plant was set up by a startup called Carbon Loop in collaboration with the Thiruvalur District Rural Development Agency.

The plant converts cow dung into electricity, which is a sustainable and renewable energy solution for the village.

The district administration approached the startup with the problem of managing cow dung, leading to the idea of converting it into renewable energy.

Cow dung is collected daily from cow shelters and cattle owners by the sanitary workers of Radharajapuram Panchayat.

The collected cow dung is transported to the biogas plant, where it is processed and converted into liquid form, which is then used to generate electricity.

The biogas plant was built at a cost of 60 lakh rupees, and the village is expected to save around 50,000 rupees monthly on electricity bills after deducting maintenance costs.

All streetlights in the village now run on electricity generated by the biogas plant.

There are future plans to use the biogas plant's electricity to establish a charging station for electric vehicles.

The village is no longer covered in cow dung, leading to improved cleanliness and living conditions.

The waste from the biogas plant is converted into manure, which is used to grow bananas and chilies in farmlands in Thiruvalur district.

This innovative biogas solution helps address specific village challenges and promotes sustainability.