In a major boost to the state’s waste-to-energy infrastructure, the Haryana government on August 10 announced that new Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants in Jhajjar and Kurukshetra are now fully operational. This development marks a critical step in the state’s strategy to utilize crop residue scientifically rather than burning it.
๐ญ The Plants: Turning Waste into Wealth The newly commissioned plants are designed to process massive quantities of agricultural waste, specifically paddy straw.
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Capacity: These facilities will consume thousands of tonnes of paddy straw annually, converting what was once a pollution hazard into a valuable energy resource.
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Technology: The plants utilize advanced anaerobic digestion technology to break down organic matter and produce Compressed Biogas (CBG), which is chemically similar to CNG and can be used as an automotive fuel.
๐ฟ Impact on Pollution The operationalization of these plants comes just ahead of the paddy harvest season.
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Stubble Burning Solution: By creating a market for crop residue, the government aims to incentivize farmers to sell their straw to these plants instead of burning it in the fields.
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Clean Energy: The CBG produced will be injected into the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network or sold via cascades, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Officials stated that similar projects in Ambala, Fatehabad, and Panipat are also being fast-tracked to ensure maximum coverage across the state’s paddy belt.
