Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL), a leading engineering and technology firm in the bioenergy space, has partnered with the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), to launch a pilot-scale SEED/Culture-based biomethanation plant at the Solapur Bioenergy Systems Pvt. Ltd. (SBESPL) facility.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in India’s efforts to adopt sustainable and decentralized bioenergy solutions. The pilot plant is designed to validate the THERMI-NIBE microbial consortium and will test the anaerobic digestion of a variety of lignocellulosic and organic feedstocks—including Napier grass, agricultural residues, and food/agro-industrial waste. This validation supports the broader goal of developing scalable Compressed Biogas (CBG) production, aligned with the Government of India’s SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) initiative.
Originally set up to convert municipal solid waste into biogas and organic manure, SBESPL has evolved into a model facility for urban waste valorisation and now enters a transformative phase. The new pilot plant positions SBESPL as one of India’s few live demonstration platforms for next-generation microbial technologies applied to complex feedstocks. This redefines the facility’s role—from a waste treatment unit to a strategic hub for clean energy innovation—contributing directly to India's circular economy and energy transition goals.
The pilot project aims to improve digestion rates of hard-to-degrade biomass, increase biogas yields from unconventional feedstocks, test overall process stability and environmental viability, and demonstrate the technology’s readiness for commercial-scale implementation. To ensure a consistent supply of biomass, ORSL has also initiated large-scale Napier grass cultivation in and around Solapur. This high-yield, lignocellulosic crop is particularly well-suited for thermophilic digestion.
At the plant’s inauguration, Mr. Yashas Bhand, CEO and Whole-Time Director of ORSL, highlighted the strategic importance of the project. He noted that the pilot plant marks a critical step in ORSL’s innovation-driven growth strategy and reflects a strong commitment to scaling up indigenous biomethanation technologies. By validating the SEED/Culture-based process under real-world conditions, the company is addressing key factors in biomass digestion and gas yield, paving the way for a commercially viable and scalable CBG model.
Dr. Sachin Kumar, Deputy Director and Scientist at SSS-NIBE, emphasized the value of applying the THERMI-NIBE microbial culture in a live facility, which represents a major leap from laboratory research to practical field deployment. This collaboration is setting operational benchmarks for decentralized and large-scale bioenergy systems, showcasing how research-backed innovations can be transformed into viable, clean energy solutions.
Dr. Manju Tanwar, Chief Scientist and Head of R&D at ORSL, reflected on the broader vision, stating that the project symbolizes the integration of scientific research and engineering expertise to address India’s waste valorisation challenges. The technology being tested has the potential to revolutionize clean energy generation from complex organic waste.
Looking ahead, the successful commissioning and validation of the Solapur pilot plant is expected to serve as a national model for future deployments. The technological insights and operational data gathered from this project will play a crucial role in shaping the execution of India’s National Bioenergy Mission, promoting self-reliant and sustainable clean energy generation based on indigenous innovation and effective biomass utilization.