Geographical Information System Approach for Regional Biogas Potential Assessment
T.V. Ramachandra
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560 012, India
The economic prosperity and quality of life in a region are closely linked to the level of its per capita energy consumption. In India more than 70% of the total population inhabits rural areas and 85-90% of energy requirement is being met by bioresources. With dwindling resources, attention of planners is diverted to viable energy alternatives to meet the rural energy demand. Biogas as fuel is one such alternative, which can be obtained by anaerobic digestion of animal residues and domestic and farm wastes, abundantly available in the countryside. Study presents the techniques to assess biogas potential spatially using GIS in Kolar district, Karnataka State, India. This would help decision makers in selecting villages for implementing biogas programmes based on resource availability. Analyses reveal that the domestic energy requirement of more than 60% population can be met by biogas option. This is based on the estimation of the per capita requirement of gas for domestic purposes and availability of livestock residues.
Key words : Energy, bioresource, agro ecosystems, biogas, animal waste, resource potential, GIS
Citation: Ramachandra T.V., 2008. Geographical Information System Approach for Regional Biogas Potential Assessment, Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2(3): 170-184.
Corresponding Author :
T.V. Ramachandra,
Centre for Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA),
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560 012, India
Tel: 91-080-23600985/22933099/22932506
Fax: 91-080-23601428/23600085/23600683 170
e-mail : cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in
T.V. Ramachandra,
Centre for Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA),
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560 012, India
Tel: 91-080-23600985/22933099/22932506
Fax: 91-080-23601428/23600085/23600683 170
e-mail : cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in
