In 2018, Ramanujar Temple in Salem took a significant step towards environmental sustainability by installing a 75 kg cow dung biogas plant. This remarkable initiative was born out of a necessity to manage the 50-60 kg of cow dung waste generated daily by their six cows. The temple, established in 2017 to commemorate the 1000th birth year of Sri Ramanujar, actively sought eco-friendly solutions and stumbled upon the idea of biogas.
After extensive research, the temple zeroed in on a biogas system and was particularly impressed with the offerings of Green Connect. Despite exploring various companies in the biogas sector, the temple officials found Green Connect’s products and services to be superior, prompting them to install a biogas plant. The plant produces 3 cubic metres of biogas daily with 30 – 50 kg as feedstock per day. 3 cubic metres of biogas is equivalent to 1.5kg of LPG.
Utilising the biogas for three to four hours of daily cooking, the temple prepares prasadams, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment. They encountered a blockage issue in the biogas plant, but efficiently resolved it. For stove blockages, the burner top is removed and the blockage is cleared with an iron scrub. In cases of inlet feed pipe blockage, caused by large particles, a plunger is used to push the particles out, repeating the motion until the blockage is released. Regularly mixing cow dung or food waste with water in the appropriate ratios is crucial in the operation of a biogas plant to prevent blockages. The ideal mixture for food waste and water is 1:2, while for cow dung and water, it’s 1:1. This practice facilitates smooth digestion processes and enhances the efficient production of gas.
The environmental commitment of Ramanujar Temple extends beyond energy production. The slurry generated from the biogas plant serves as a natural fertiliser for the temple’s coconut trees, forming a closed-loop system of sustainable practices. The temple’s adoption of Green Connect’s biogas plant highlights their dedication to environmental consciousness and the use of alternative energy sources, setting a commendable example for others to follow.
