Organic Recycling Systems Ltd. (ORSL) has launched a pilot-scale biomethanation plant at the Solapur Bioenergy Systems Pvt. Ltd. (SBESPL) facility in collaboration with the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE). The plant aims to validate the THERMI-NIBE microbial consortium, which is designed to enhance the anaerobic digestion of diverse lignocellulosic and organic feedstocks such as Napier grass, agricultural residues, and food/agro-industrial waste. The goal is to produce Compressed Biogas (CBG) on a scalable basis, aligning with the Government of India’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative.
The launch of the pilot plant marks a significant advancement in India’s pursuit of sustainable and decentralized bioenergy solutions. The plant will operate as a live platform for testing cutting-edge microbial technologies on complex, real-world feedstocks, positioning SBESPL as a strategic center for clean energy innovation. The project’s core objectives include enhancing digestion rates, maximizing biogas output, testing process stability, and demonstrating commercial-scale deployment readiness.
To support the project, ORSL has initiated large-scale cultivation of Napier grass, a high-yield, lignocellulosic crop suited for thermophilic digestion. The pilot plant’s commissioning represents a pivotal moment in India’s bioenergy landscape, driving innovation-led growth and commercialization of indigenous research. The collaboration between ORSL and SSS-NIBE underscores a shared commitment to scaling next-generation biomethanation technologies.
The THERMI-NIBE culture, developed through extensive R&D, aims to enhance biological conversion efficiency of complex biomass. Its deployment in a real-world setting at Solapur marks a critical step towards field-proven performance. The initiative demonstrates how research-led innovation can be transformed into commercially viable and environmentally impactful clean energy solutions.
The Solapur pilot is poised to emerge as a national reference model for scalable deployment across India’s biomethanation sector. The operational insights and technology benchmarks established through this project will inform the execution of India’s National Bioenergy Mission, advancing the vision of self-reliant clean energy generation through indigenous innovation and sustainable biomass utilization. The project’s success has the potential to redefine how India generates clean, scalable bioenergy from complex organic feedstocks, addressing the country’s waste valorization challenge and contributing to its energy security.