Gandhinagar: The Japanese automobile giant, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SUZUKI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), to start a Biogas Demonstration Project which would accelerate carbon neutrality in India.

SUZUKI and NDDB will study the business model for the future commercialization of biogas and its potential for widespread use, in view of establishing a joint venture.

In India, there are many cows whose dungs contain methane that have 28 times larger greenhouse effect than those of CO₂, which is emitted into the atmosphere. The project will consider suppressing atmospheric emissions of methane and refining fuel for automobiles from methane contained in cow dung.

SUZUKI’s President Toshihiro Suzuki said, “While aiming to realize carbon net zero in India, SUZUKI will also contribute in revitalizing rural communities and improving energy self-efficiency.”

Shri @ShahMeenesh, Chairman, NDDB & Mr Kazuto Kasahara, Director, Suzuki R&D Center signed MoU to propagate dung-based biogas plants for mobility fuel & produce organic fertiliser in presence of Mr T Suzuki, President, Suzuki Motor Corp, Mr Kazunobu Hori & Mr Kenichiro Toyofuku pic.twitter.com/xke18UH4Zj

— National Dairy Development Board (@NDDB_Coop) August 28, 2022

CO₂ in the atmosphere is taken into the pasture by photosynthesis, and the pasture becomes food for the cows. Methane included in dungs egested from cows is emitted into the atmosphere, so by collecting dungs and refining fuel for automobiles through artificially generating biogas, methane emitted into the atmosphere can be suppressed. As this fuel derives from CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere, this is a carbon-neutral fuel. The residue from the biogas can also be used as organic fertilizer, contributing to the organic fertilizer promotion policy by the Government of India.

“By establishing such a business model and deploying it throughout India, we believe we can contribute not only to achieving carbon neutrality but also to revitalizing rural communities, creating new jobs, recycling waste, improving energy self-sufficiency, and creating a recycling-oriented society,” said Suzuki in a press release.

DeshGujarat