Since March 2012, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK Bangalore has been producing its own electricity through a biogas plant.

The biogas plant is the first of its kind on any university campus in India. Power is being produced by using around five tones of cow dung, agricultural and kitchen waste.

The plant generates around 300-320 units of electricity per day lasting for 16 hours. If we calculate, according to power bill, the biogas plant is saving at least Rs. 50,000 per month.

Narayana Gowda, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, has said, “The benefit of biogas-based power generation unit is its independence from irregular and costlier power grid. It ensures continuity of resource due to self -efficiency in power generation and also ensures good quality manure.”

The project is worth Rs.40 lakh and the payback period is around two years.

Kumargoud, Project co-coordinator at GKVK has said, “The University is also encouraging small farmers to set up similar units at individual and community levels.”

Based on the success of Bangalore’s pilot power plant, the University aims to replicate the same in other campuses says Narayana Gowda.