In 2021, Udaipur built a 20-tonne-per-day biomethanation plant from food and farm waste; the result produced compressed biogas for sale instead of landfill disposal

What if part of a city’s waste could be treated as a resource rather than something that simply has to be carried away and dumped? That question became increasingly important in Udaipur, where about 220 tonnes of waste was generated every day in 2021, with 68% classified as organic. A smaller biomethanation project had already shown that this waste could be processed and turned into useful energy.

The experiment eventually led to something much larger. In February 2021, Udaipur began operating a 20-tonne-per-day biomethanation plant at the reclaimed Balicha dumping yard, producing Compressed Bio Gas, or CBG, for sale in the open market. The report is based on ICLEI South Asia “Building Climate Resilience in Indian Cities” compendium, specifically its Udaipur biomethanation case study.

How did Udaipur move beyond landfill dumping?

Until 2019, Udaipur’s collected waste was being dumped at the Balicha landfill, around 20 km from the city. That system meant higher transportation costs, pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

A waste quantification and characterization study conducted by ICLEI South Asia in 2017 found that 68% of the city’s waste was biodegradable and contained 82% moisture. A feasibility study then examined different treatment options, including windrow composting, vermicomposting and biomethanation.

The first step was a 2-tonne-per-day biomethanation plant at Madri Fire Station. Built and operationalized under the CapaCITIES Phase I project in 2019, the pilot gave Udaipur an opportunity to understand how the technology could work under local conditions.

The pilot processed 293 tonnes of wet waste during 2020-21 and produced 8,838 cubic metres of biogas. That gas generated 13,313 kWh of electricity for the fire station. The experience also helped build confidence among city officials and contributed to the decision to develop the larger 20 TPD facility.

What happens inside the 20 TPD plant?

The larger facility was developed under the Smart City Mission on the bioremediated site of the former Balicha dumping yard. A 60 TPD Material Recovery Facility was also constructed at the same location to process dry waste.

Udaipur Municipal Corporation chose to produce CBG because there was no state-level power-purchase policy for waste-to-energy. Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Ltd built the plant under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer model and handles its operation and maintenance for 15 years.

The plant uses a basic Khadi and Village Industries Commission model biogas digester with water sealing and an agitation mechanism. Its outputs include CBG and compost, while electricity is used internally as backup power.

The plant has an average raw biogas and CBG production capacity of about 1,600 cubic metres of raw biogas per day, producing around 600 kg of CBG daily. The methane purity is listed at 93% to 96%, while biofertilizer production is about 8 tonnes per day.

Why was producing CBG important?

The plant created a different route for organic waste. Instead of sending biodegradable material toward landfill disposal, it could be processed into CBG and compost.

The CBG can be used as cooking fuel and is compatible with vehicles, allowing it to be sold to local CNG dealers. The plant also recycles effluent from the digester, meaning there is zero freshwater demand for processing the organic waste.

The facility is designed as a circular-economy system, converting organic waste into CBG and compost while generating revenue. According to the case study, processing 12 tonnes of biodegradable waste per day addresses nearly 19% of Udaipur’s total waste and supports the city’s zero-landfill goal.



At full capacity, the plant has the potential to reduce around 4,000 tonnes of CO2e annually.

The project still faces challenges. It needs a continuous supply of source-segregated wet waste, while dry waste mixed into the feedstock can reduce efficiency. The report also notes that creating demand for CBG remains important, with the operator currently selling CBG to hoteliers below the market rate, affecting financial sustainability.

For Udaipur, however, the progression from a 2 TPD pilot to a 20 TPD city-scale plant shows how testing a smaller system can shape a much larger waste-management approach. The case study also emphasizes that 100% source-segregated waste, market analysis and lessons from pilot projects are important for successful biomethanation systems.

FAQs

What does Udaipur’s plant produce?
It produces Compressed Bio Gas, compost and electricity for internal backup use.

Why was the 20 TPD plant built?
The larger plant followed the successful 2 TPD pilot and expanded Udaipur’s capacity to process organic municipal waste.