Biogas is the mixture of different gases produced by methanogenic bacteria feeding on bio-degradable materials in anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Biogas is 50-70% methane and 30-40% carbon dioxide. It also contains small amount of other gases. Biogas is about 20% lighter than air. It is odorless and colorless and burns with a clear blue flame similar to that of LPG. Its calorific value is about 20 MJ per m3 and it burns with a 60% efficiency in a conventional biogas stove.

ACHIEVEMENTS

AEPC's Biogas programme (Biogas Support Program (BSP) began in July 1992. As of July 2011 it has achieved the following:

• 241,920 biogas plants were installed under the BSP alone, in over 2800 VDCs and all 75 Districts, 2907 biogas plants were installed under the GSP, and 11,835 plants were installed before BSP started making a total of 2,56,662 biogas plants installed
• Around 81private biogas companies have been strengthened and qualified
• 17 biogas appliance manufacturing workshops are developed and pre-qualified
• Comprehensive quality standards and quality control systems in place
• Around 95% plants that have crossed guarantee period are operational
• 1, 52,410 Household (63%) of biogas plants are connected to toilets
• About 74% to 89% biogas users use slurry in one or another form and 63% after composting
• Proper usage of bio-slurry and bio-compost in 121500 (90%) household within the Phase IV (July 2003-Dec 2010)
• 1.75 Tons slurry and compost fertilizer annually per household
• Around 91% of the owners whose plants have crossed guarantee period are satisfied
• The biogas programme is the first project in the Nepal to operate under Clean Development Mechanism principles
• BSP is ISO 9001-2000 certified in recognition of its strong quality management and subsidy administration systems
• 264 micro-finance institutes are assisting communities with biogas loans
• Around 9,000 persons got direct or indirect job employment due to BSP