download (pdf, 11MB) - SNV

condition of the family. 3% of them told it to be increased, 87% told it to be the same and 4% can not say any
thing. Interestingly, 9% of the respondents told that the financial condition is worsened because of the interest in
loans. However, the cause of worsening as experienced by the study team was not the installation of biogas
plant.
i. Saving on Purchase of Fuel
Theoretically, based upon effective heat produced, a plant producing 2 cubic metres of gas each day can replace
about 210 kilogrammes of firewood per month. The equivalent quantity of kerosene is about 37 litres. In
monetary values, if that quantity of gas is used to replace firewood and kerosene, it saves Rs. 315 and Rs. 370
respectively. This study findings revealed that the gas was used for one to two hours in the morning and evening
each and 30 minutes to one hour during day time on an average. Tables 43 and 44 given in clause 6.1.6 and
6.1.8 respectively illustrate the total burning hours of stove and lamps in the sampled households. The average
total burning hours of stove and lamp was assessed to be 2.33 and 1.19 hours respectively per day. From this
data, assuming that a stove needs 400 litres of gas per hour and a gas lamp needs 200 litres of gas per hour, the
total gas production is estimated to be 117 cubic metres per day. Theoretically, this saved an equivalent quantity
of 12285 kgs of firewood or 2165 litres of kerosene per month, the monetary value of which comes to be Rs.
2,21,130 and Rs. 2,85,780 respectively per year. The cost of firewood and kerosene for the above calculation is
taken to be Rs. 1.50 per kg and Rs. 11.00 per litre, the mean of the rates as responded by the users during
interviews.
The saving can also be calculated in other way too. The total saving of firewood and kerosene was calculated to
be 5051 Bharis, approximately 151530 kgs (1 bhari is assumed to be 30 kg) and 1130 litres respectively based
upon the responses as delivered by the respondents. This resulted in an actual saving of Rs. 2,27,295 from the
fuelwood and Rs. 12,430 from the kerosene giving a total of 2,39,725 - that is a substantial amount.
Interestingly, the two figures obtained is more or less similar. This also indicates the respondents' capacity to
assess the burning hour of stoves and lamps.
Table - 45 (a) : Quantity Of Firewood Used Before And After Installation Of Biogas Plants
Qty of fire-wood used
No, of Household
(In Bharis */year) Before After
1 to 60 55 89
61 to 90 11 3
91 to 120 15 4
121to150 4 1
More than 150 15 3
Considering the quantity of firewood used before and after the installation of biogas plant, total saving in
quantity was calculated which has been summarized in the following table. . .
Table - 45(b) : Saving Of Firewood After The Installation Of Biogas Plants
Qty of firewood Saved
No. of Household'
(In Bharis */year)
ltu30 42
31lol20 43
121to150
More than 150
5
5
Remained same 5
Additional required 0
* 1 bhari - 30 kgs approx.
Besides firewood, it was reported that about 5000 kgs of agricultural residues such as remains of maize or wheat
plants which used to be used for cooking purpose was also saved after the plant installation.
In the similar manner, quantity of kerosene used before and after the installation and the resulting saving there
on have been highlighted in the following two tables.