Electricity Generation :

  The  decentralised   electricity   generation   system  by  a 
  community biogas plant was tried out in 1987 in  Pura village, 
  Kunigal taluk, Tumkur  district for illumination and drinking 
  water  facility. The biogas system is accepted and maintained 
  by  villagers  due  to  multiple   advantages   like   better 
  illumination  facility than kerosene lamps, convenient method 
  of drinking water supply and better fertilizer in the form of 
  sludge without pathogens and weeds(due to anaerobic condition 
  and  long  retention  time  in  closed  digesters ) .  A 5 kW 
  electricity generation unit using biogas-diesel engine-genset 
  system  caters  the  needs  of  pumping  domestic  water  and 
  illumination  in  the  evening (for 4 hours). Two youths have 
  been  trained  to  maintain  and  manage  the  system .  This 
  community  system  provides  revenue  for  the village to the 
  extent  that  the  total  revenue  received  through  outputs 
  exceeds  the  expenses  for  diesel and dung charges (paid to 
  villagers). Detailed  economic  analyses carried out based on 
  life cycle costing method show that at 4.3 hours/day capacity 
  utilisation, the  cost of  electricity is Rs. 2.75/kWh. It is 
  noticed  that  as  capacity utilisation increases to 15 hours/
  day   the  cost  per  kWh  reduces to Rs. 1.40. Comparison of 
  decentralised  biogas  system with nuclear power station show 
  that in a  capital starved  situation where the real discount 
  rates are high, the  cost/kW of  installed  capacity is lower 
  for biogas systems compared to nuclear power plants.

  This review of bioenergy  production from animal residues has 
  shown that potential  solutions do exist,  but there are very 
  few in practical  operation. The  economics of such solutions 
  would  ultimately  depend  on local  conditions, requirements, 
  subsidies, etc. If  farmers are forced/convinced to treat the 
  residues  for  biogas  prior to  disposal to compost pits, it  
  would  be a valuable  way to  conserve fuel wood and  improve 
  the cooking environment in the kitchen.