Compressed Biogas (CBG)

Process, Technology and Applications

Compressed Biogas (CBG) is purified and compressed biogas equivalent to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in composition and energy potential. IIT Delhi has been at the forefront of CBG research, technology development and policy formulation in India, including operating the country's first biogas-powered car for over 15 years covering more than 1,50,000 km.

1,50,000+

km on India's first biogas car

95%+

Methane purity achieved

IS:16087

BIS standard based on IIT Delhi data

GOBARdhan Scheme

GOBARdhan

Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan — Operational Guidelines

The GOBARdhan scheme is the Government of India's flagship programme to promote Compressed Biogas (CBG) production across the country. It provides a comprehensive support framework covering offtake assurance, pricing, capital assistance, pipeline infrastructure, credit guarantees and an ecosystem challenge fund.

The scheme aims to create a sustainable CBG ecosystem in India by supporting producers through every stage — from project registration to gas sale — and ensures a minimum administered price for CBG producers selling through the national gas grid.

Total Scheme Outlay: Rs. 23,731 Crore

Scheme Components

Component 1

CBG Offtake Assurance Mechanism

Ensures guaranteed offtake of CBG through firm or reasonable-endeavour contracts with CGD entities. Producers register on the GOBARdhan Portal and CGD entities must execute agreements within 3 months.

Component 2

CBG Pricing Framework

Administered CBG Price (ACP) of Rs. 2,110/MMBtu (Rs. 98/kg at 95% methane). Government provides affordability support of Rs. 10/kg to GAIL. Price reviewed annually by PAB.

Component 3

Capital Assistance for CBG Projects

Rs. 1.25 crore/TPD for plant machinery (Sub-Component I) and 50% of feedstock aggregation costs up to Rs. 0.75 crore/TPD (Sub-Component II). Total cap of Rs. 30 crore per project.

Component 4

Pipeline Infrastructure Development

50% capex support for CGD network connectivity and 80% for trunk pipeline connectivity, limited to 75 km. Both commissioned and under-construction plants (min. 25% progress) can apply.

Component 5

Credit Guarantee Support

NCGTC provides 85% guarantee cover on eligible term loans. Maximum cover of Rs. 20 crore for general MSMEs and Rs. 25 crore for women-led MSMEs. Annual guarantee fee of 0.5%.

Component 6

CBG Ecosystem Challenge Fund

District CBG Challenge Programme awards top districts up to Rs. 5 crore each. Ecosystem Enablement grants cover up to 50% of eligible project cost for R&D, equipment development and manure value addition.

IIT Delhi's Role in CBG Development

Research & Technology

Prof. Vijay and the BDTC team at IIT Delhi have been pioneers in CBG technology development in India. The team developed a low-cost small-scale water scrubbing system achieving methane purity of more than 95%, which has been patented and licensed to 11 industries and multiple gaushalas.

The performance data from IIT Delhi's biogas car operations directly informed the formulation of BIS biomethane standard IS:16087 in 2013, making IIT Delhi instrumental in establishing India's CBG regulatory framework.