Biogas and biomethane: Feedstocks
Dung, press mud and straw: India's untapped gas field
Dung, press mud and straw: India's untapped gas field What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Biogas uses wastes and residues that have little other value, so feedstock collection and logistics, not purchase price, decide cost. Sites need steady supply within 20-50 km. In India, cattle dung, press mud from sugar mills and paddy straw are the main feeds; in Europe, manure, food waste and some energy crops.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk Milk & dairy | about 60-70 t fresh dung per t CBG (indicative) | main feed for farm and GOBARdhan plants; avoided methane credit | low purchase cost; collection dominates (indicative) | indicative |
| Su Sugar | about 20-25 t per t CBG (indicative) | concentrated feed at mills in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra | about Rs 500-1,000 per t press mud (indicative) | indicative |
| Ri Rice | about 8-10 t per t CBG (indicative) | large potential in Punjab and Haryana, reduces stubble burning | baling, transport and storage are the main costs (indicative) | indicative |
| Municipal organic waste and sewage sludge | about 7-10 t food waste per t CBG (indicative) | city plants (Indore's large CBG plant, indicative) | often paid a tipping fee (indicative) | indicative |
| Mz Maize | about 25-30 t fresh Napier grass per t CBG (indicative) | steady feed; used in Germany and some Indian plants | purchased crop is the largest cost (indicative) | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Landfill gas and large manure or food-waste plants near grids are cheapest; small farm plants and straw-based plants cost more. The IEA finds about five times today's biomethane output could be produced at or below wholesale gas prices, and about 280 bcm becomes competitive at a CO2 price of $50 per t.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Su SugarMk Milk & dairyWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| MeOH Methanol | bio-methanol from biogas |
| H2 Hydrogen | steam reforming of biomethane |
| CO2 Carbon dioxide | biogenic CO2 from upgrading for food and e-fuels |