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COMSATS Institute of information Technology

M.A Jinnah Campus Off Raiwind Road, LAHORE

Biogas potential in Pakistan

Absar SalehBiomass Conversion Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore

Article Info ABSTRACT

Written on:04 February, 2012

Keywords:Energy resourcesBiogasRenewable energyPakistan

Pakistan and most of the developing countries are in energy crisis. Pakistan spends almost 7 billion US$ on import of fossil fuels annually to fulfill its energy needs. The renewable and sustainable energy resources are best substitute to the conventional fuels and energy sources. Pakistan takes the opportunity to have almost of its population rural. Having a large amount of animals that give 652 million kg of manure daily from cattle and buffalo only this can be used to generate 16.3 million m3 biogas per day and 21 million tons of bio fertilizer per year. So by installing the biogas units we can overcome the energy crisis which we are facing to. They are low-cost and can be run with very small budget. Biogas energy corridor can work as a good substitute for nearly 70% of country’s population residing in rural areas. Installation of plants to store the biogas can be additional opportunity. The need of a national policy is imperative to bring this technology at farmer’s doorstep.

CONTENTS1. Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................................ii2. Overall Energy Mix of Pakistan.....................................................................................................................................ii3. Non Renewable Resources...........................................................................................................................................iii4. Renewable Energy Resources.......................................................................................................................................iii5. Fuels for Transportation................................................................................................................................................iii6. Introduction to Bio gas..................................................................................................................................................iii7. Available Conversion Technologies.............................................................................................................................iii8. Biogas Resource Potential in Pakistan..........................................................................................................................iii

a. Government Policy..........................................................................................................................................ivb. Available Feed stocks......................................................................................................................................ivc. Current Capacity...............................................................................................................................................vd. Current Production............................................................................................................................................ve. Future Prospects................................................................................................................................................v

9. Conclusions & Recommendations..................................................................................................................................vBiomass Conversion Research Centre, Department Of Chemical Engineering,COMSATS Institute of information Technology, LAHORE

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10. References......................................................................................................................................................................vi

INTRODUCTIONBiogas as a renewable energy source could be an alternate means of solving the problems of energy crisis. Agriculture has the key importance in the economy of Pakistan. Agriculture has remained the basis of the Pakistan’s economy as it provides employment to 45 percent population and provides input for agro based industry. The major limiting factor is energy which is responsible for the impede in developing economies [1] . In Pakistan almost 20% of the foreign exchange is spent on import of fossil fuels [2]. The given survey shows the increase in the energy consumption of fuels and electricity in Pakistan of last five years [3].Table-1 Annual Energy ConsumptionFiscal Year Petroleum Products Gas Electricity Coal

Tones (000) Change (mmcft) Change (Gwh) Change M.T* (000) Change(%) (%) (%) (%)

2006-07 16,847 15.2 1,221,994 -0.1 72,712 7.6 7,894.10 2.3

2007-08 18,080 7.3 1,275,212 4.4 73,400 0.9 10,110.60 28.1

2008-09 17,911 -0.9 1,269,433 -0.5 70,371 -4.1 8,390 -17.0

2009-10 19,132 6.8 1,277,821 0.66 74,348 5.65 8,139 -2.99

Avg. 9 years 1.3 6.0 4.9 9.1

July-March

2009-10 13,937 - 959,475 - 54,653 - 5,304 -

2010-11 (e) 13,802 -0.97 939,960 -2.03 56,194 2.8 5,850 10.29

e: estimated for coal Source: Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan*Million Ton

Approximately 7 US$ billion on imports of conventional energy resources were spent equivalent to 40% of total imports by Pakistan [4] Careful estimates show that by 2050 Pakistan’s energy needs are expected to increase three times while, the supplies are not very inspiring [5]. It is necessary that any alternate source of energy preferably renewable energy resource must be explored and implemented. Thus biogas is the most favorable, cheaper and easily available resource of the energy. All the rural areas in Pakistan almost have the agro waste which can be used as a raw material for the manufacturing of biogas. Expenses on these conventional resources can be easily exchanged with a better and efficient resource of renewable energy, i.e. biogas. The purpose of this paper is to overview the overall energy mix and fuels consumption in Pakistan and the potential, current production and consumption, conversion technologies, government policy and future prospects of biogas in Pakistan.Overall Energy Mix Of Pakistan

Figure-1 [6]

Overall supply of the energy is 64 million tones of oil equivalent [6].In which following is the detail of every resource.COAL [6]

Total proven reserves of coal are 185 billion tones.Production is 3.1 million tones.Consumption is 7.8 million tones.Imports are 4.7 million tones.Oil [6]

Total resource potential is 27 billion barrels.Crude oil refining capacity is 13 million tones.Consumption is 19.6 million tones.Imports are 18.6 million tones.GAS [6]

Total resource potential is 282 TCF.

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Production is 4 BCF/day.

Renewable Energy Resources

Biomass is the easily available and the cheapest than any energy resource, by the economic survey of Pakistan 2010-2011 the biomass resources of Pakistan are as:

Table-2 Livestock Population (Million Nos.)Species 2010-11Cattle 35.6Buffalo 31.7Sheep 28.1Goat 61.5Camels 1.0Horses 0.4Asses4. 7Mules 0.2Source: Ministry of Livestock and Dairy development1: Estimated Figure based on inter census growth rate of Livestock Census 1996 & 2006

Fuels for Transportation

Fuels that are being used for transportation in Pakistan are:

Compressed natural gas, gasoline, Hi octane gasoline, diesel, LPG is the major types of fuels that are being used in Pakistan nowadays.

Introduction to Biogas

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel [7].

Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material, and crops. Biogas comprises primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), moisture and siloxanes.

The gases methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide (CO) can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen. This energy release allows biogas to be used as a fuel. Biogas can be used as a fuel in any country for any heating purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in anaerobic digesters where it is typically used in a gas engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity and heat.

Conversion Technologies

Biomass can be converted into biogas by anaerobic digestion technology.Anaerobic Digestion Technology [8] is consisting of three distinct stages.In the first stage complex biomass material is decomposed by a heterogeneous set of microorganisms, not necessarily confined to anaerobic environments. These decompositions comprise mainly of cellulosic material to simple glucose, using enzymes provided by the co-organisms as catalyst. Similarly proteins are decomposed to amino acids and lipids to long chain acids. The significant result of the first phrase is the most of the biomass is now water soluble and in a simpler chemical form suited for the next process step.

The second stage involves dehydrogenation, such as changing glucose into acetic acid, carboxylation of the amino acids, and breaking down the long chain fatty acids into short chain acids, again obtaining acetic acid as the final

Biomass Conversion Research Centre, Department Of Chemical Engineering,COMSATS Institute of information Technology, LAHORE

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product. These reactions are fermentation reactions accomplished by a range of acidophilic (acid-forming) bacteria. Their optimum performance requires a PH environment in the range 6-7 (slightly acidic), but the acid already formed will lower the PH of the solution, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the PH, for example by adding the lime.

Finally the third phase is the production of biogas from acetic acid by a second set of fermentation reactions performed by methanogenic bacteria. These bacteria require a strictly anaerobic environment. Often, all processes into stages will allow greater efficiencies to be reached. The third phase takes the order of weeks, the preceding phases on the order of hours or days, depending on the nature of the feed stock. Starting from the cellulose the overall reaction may be summarized as,

(C6H10O5)n + nH2O 3nCO2 + 3nCH4 + 19Jmol-1

And in the step 1(C6H10O5)n + nH2O n(C6H10O6)In the step 2C6H12O6 2C2H5OH + CO2

2C2H5OH + CO2 2CH3COOH + CH4

In the final step,3nCH3COOH 3nCH4 + 3nCO2

And for the purpose anaerobic digestion there are different models of biogas plants.Biomass can be converted into biogas by using following biogas plants;

I. Floating Gas Holder type Plants[9]:

This type of plant basically comprises of an under ground brick masonry digester connected with an inlet and outlet covered by a floating steel gas holder for gas collection. Gasholder moves up and down guided by a central guide pipe depending upon accumulation and discharge of gas. Floating gas holder made of mild steel alone accounts for some 40 percent of the total plant cost and accordingly these plants are much more expansive than fixed dome type. The gas holder is separated from the digester. A partition is provided in digester to encourage circulation. The floating gas holder provided at the top of the digester helps to keep the pressure constant. The gas holder rises when the pressure is increased due to production of gas and allows

Biomass Conversion Research Centre, Department Of Chemical Engineering,COMSATS Institute of information Technology, LAHORE

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the generated gas to let out through the gas supply pipe. It lowers when pressure is

decreased to stop the supply of the biogas.

Figure 5 (Floating Gas Holder type Plant)

II. Fixed Dome Type Biogas Plant[10]:

In fixed dome digester , the gas holder and the digester are combined. Gas is stored in the upper part of the digester. Upper portion of digester pit itself acts as a gas holder. Displaced level of slurry provides requisite pressure for release of gas for its subsequent use. The pressure inside the digester varies as the gas is collected. Fixed dome digester is usually built below the ground level and is suitable for cold regions. AAs the plant does not involves any steel parts, it can be built with local materials

and hence its construction costs are low.

Figure 6 (Fixed Dome Type Biogas Plant)

III. Fixed Dome With Expansion Chamber type Biogas Plant[11]:

It has a curved bottom and hemispherical top which are joined at their bases with no cylindrical portion in between. Displaced slurry following digestion moves to the outlet displacement chamber as there is no displacement space on the inlet side. An inlet pipe connects mixing tank with the digester. This type of biogas palnt is very cheaper as compared with the other two types of Biogas

plants.

Figure 7 (Fixed Dome with Expansion Chamber type Biogas Plant)

Biogas Resources of Pakistan

Being an agro-livestock based economy; Pakistan has huge resources of biomass that are available in the form of crop residues, dung and feces, poultry litter, sugarcane bagasse and wood[12]. Electricity generation using biomass is one of the most convenient options, approximately 9 Giga Watts of electricity is generated from biomass worldwide. Pakistan is world’s 5th largest sugarcane producer with an average annual production of 50 million tons cane and 10 million tons of bagasse. According to an estimate there are about 80 sugar mills having potential to generate almost 3000 MW energy through biogas generation but they are currently operating at 700 MW[13] . Livestock sector is growing at the rate of 4% annually. There are almost 159 million animals and their manure can be used for generation of biogas in rural areas. Energy production by using animal

Biomass Conversion Research Centre, Department Of Chemical Engineering,COMSATS Institute of information Technology, LAHORE

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feces is highly sustainable as it is economically viable, socially acceptable besides being environment friendly[14]. There are almost 35.2 million cattle and buffalo (Table 2) assuming that an average animal can produce 10 kg of manure daily would account for almost 352 million kg of dung. If 50% of produced feces is collected and used for biogas production, it will be 176 million kg. According to an estimate about 20 kg wet mass of manure can generate 1 cubic meter (m3) biogas therefore producing almost 8.1 million m3 biogas daily [15]. Almost 112 million people in Pakistan are rural residents and biogas can meet their cooking and other energy needs in a good way. Pakistan can also explore biogas potential of citrus pulp, paper industry, slaughter house and street waste as well. Poultry waste is ideal substrate to produce biogas.

Government PolicyThe Government has formed a council for renewable energy technology named as Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy technology (PCRET).Which is working for the development of the biogas plants in the country.

With the energy crisis in Pakistan getting worse day by day, biogas plants in rural areas can play a major role in decreasing the burden on the national energy grids. Even in the developed countries like UK, biogas plants are being built and encouraged with the help of government funds and many other incentives. In our neighboring country India, there are almost two millions biogas plants.

Pakistan’s 70 percent population lives in the rural areas. Most farmers have two or more cows/buffalos. The dung from these cattle mixed with an equal proportion of water can be used to produce biogas in a biogas plant. This biogas can then be used for cooking purposes or to generate electricity through a gas fired engine

whereas the residue from this plant can be used as a fertilizer. Typically, 50 kg cow dung is required to produce 100 cubic feet of biogas that is sufficient to fulfill the daily requirements of a family of five or six members.

About 4,137 biogas plants were installed in Pakistan with the help of the government in the period 1974 to 1987. The government fully funded the first 100 installations and later on withdrew the financial support. Since then, the growth rate of this technology dropped drastically and only 6,000 biogas plants were installed till the end of 2006. Pakistan Centre for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) has already installed and supported 4,000 biogas plants with only 50 percent financial contribution from beneficiaries [16].

Now PCRET is going to install 368 biogas plants in rural areas of Pakistan. Also Strategy & Business Development at KESC to discuss about the upcoming renewable power project base primarily on animal waste. hay have started the project of producing biogas from animal manure and the dairy farms honors have signed an agreement of supplying 3000 tones per day to the KESC and the production power of the plant will be 20-25 MW[17].

The Initial Environment Examination (IEE) conducted for the Pakistan Domestic Biogas Program, proposed to be implemented by the Rural Support Program Network (RSPN), Pakistan. The program envisions setting up 300,000 domestic biogas plants across Pakistan within 10 years of time.

Available Feed StocksAs previously described in Table 2 The manure of the live stock animals, biogases, field grass, straw, and different types of cellulosic material and organic wastes are the raw material for the production of biogas. Urban areas of Pakistan generate over 55000 tones of solid wastes daily[3]. More than a total of 15 million layer-

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chicken and 528 broiler chicken birds were approximately produced in 2003 With a share of 22%, 68%, 3.5% and 6.5% of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and NWFP Provinces respectively. According to unofficial estimates, hardly 5 to 10% poultry farms have membership of Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA). As per livestock Census 2006 there are 56.9 million animals (Buffaloes, cow, and bullocks) in Pakistan. . On the average the daily dung dropping of medium size of animal is estimated 15 kg per day. This would Yield 854 million kg dung/day. Assuming 50 % connectivity the availability of fresh dung comes out to be 427 million kg/day. Thus 21.35 million m3

biogas can be produced through bio-methanation. In addition it will also produce 450 million _ones of bio-fertilizer per day.Current Capacity and ProductionBiogas Technology is an environment friendly technology. It contributes towards eco System management and biodiversity conservation. It provides soot-free clean gas for meeting domestic fuel needs as well as enriched biofertilizer for improvement of Fertility/productivity of agricultural lands. The dung from animal is the source of biogas. The raw material is available in Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and some parts of Balochistan. So far PCRET has installed 3500 biogas plants (with net generation capacity of 14395 M3 / day) on cost sharing basis throughout Pakistan [17].

Future Prospects

Unlike conventional gas power plants biogas has no environmental hazards and handling aspects. As it is a renewable energy resource hence it is profitable. It is cheaper than all other energy resources so it is best fit for the alternate energy resource in future. Mostly countries are installing the biogas plants on commercial level on large scale. In future biogas is going to be the beneficial sources specially for the rural areas as well as urban areas.

Recommendations.

There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits of biogas technology. The government of Pakistan through PCRET and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) should take the initiative and announce more funds and support for this proven technology to be a part of our rural society. In parallel, the media should raise the level of awareness among the rural community by highlighting the benefits of this technology. NGOs and foreign investors should be encouraged to invest in this sector too.

Conclusions

With rapid increase in population and industry, energy needs are on rise. Almost 7 million m3 wood is used for commercial and domestic purpose annually in Pakistan. Biogas energy generation systems are in demand and their number is increasing steadily. They are cheaper and can be run with very low operating cost. This bio energy corridor can work as a good substitute for nearly 70% of country’s population residing in rural areas. Installation of plants to bottle the biogas can be another option. This will decentralize the source of energy and ensure uninterrupted power supply to the villages in Pakistan. At present many agencies like PDDC, PCRET and RSPN are working to disseminate this renewable energy technology. But the need of a National policy is imperative to bring this technology at farmer’s doorstep and boost its success rate.

References

[1] Ashraf Chaudhry M, Raza R, Hayat S. Renewable energy technologies in Pakistan:prospects and challenges.

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Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2008;13;1657-62,

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2008.09.025

[2] Ghaffar MA, The energy supply situation in the rural sector of Pakistan and the potential of renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy 1995;6:941-76,

doi:10.1016/0960-1481(94)00034-0[3] Ministry of Finance, Government of

Pakistan. Pakistan economic survey 2010-11; n.d. Available:http://finance.gov.pk/survey 0910.html

[4] Heedge F, Pandey B. Program implementation document for a national program on domestic biogas dissemination in Pakistan; 2008

[5] Asif M. Sustainable energy options for Pakistan. Renewable and SustainableEnergy Reviews 2009;13:903–9,doi:10.1016/j.rser.2008.04.001.

[6] International exhibition for the energy industry www.pogee.com.pk/

[7] Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.

www.wikipedia-en.com.biogas/[8] Renewable Energy Resources (2005), G N

Tiwari and M K Ghosal

[9] Bio Renewable Resources (2004), Robert C Brown

[10] Biomass for Renewable energy, Fuels and Chemicals (2006), Donald L Klass

[11] Renewable Energy Resources (2005), G N Tiwari and M K Ghosal

[12] Asif M. Sustainable energy options for Pakistan. Renewable and SustainableEnergy Reviews 2009;13:903–9,doi:10.1016/j.rser.2008.04.001.

[13] PBIT. Power generation from sugar mills; 2010.

[14] Beta Pak. Biogas plants, equipments and services. http://betapak.org ; 2010. Available: http://betapak.org

[15] Sheikh MA. Renewable energy resource potential in Pakistan. Renewable and sustainable energy Reviews 2009;13;2696-702,

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.06.029

[16] Energy Times News Paper of Pakistan.

[17] Biogas Plant Design Blog

www.biogasplantdesign.com.Pk/

[18] Pakistan First Science and Technology Blog

www.paksc.com.pk/

Figures Captions

1. Figure-1 (Over all Energy mix of Pakistan)

2. Figure-2 (Step.1 for anaerobic digestion)3. Figure-3 (Step.2 for anaerobic digestion)4. Figure-4 (Step.3 for complete anaerobic

digestion)5. Figure-5 (Floating gas Holder Type

Biogas Plant.)6. Figure-6 (Fixed Dome Type Biogas

Plant.)7. Figure-7 (Fixed Dome type With

Expansion Chamber Biogas Plant.)

Biomass Conversion Research Centre, Department Of Chemical Engineering,COMSATS Institute of information Technology, LAHORE