ORSL, SSS-NIBE Partner to Launch SEED/Culture Consortium Based Pilot Biomethanation Plant in Solapur
Organic Recycling Systems Ltd. (ORSL), in partnership with the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), has launched a SEED/Culture-based biomethanation pilot plant in Solapur, Maharashtra.
May 28, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
The initiative represents a landmark advancement in India's pursuit of sustainable and decentralised bioenergy solutions. Designed to validate the THERMI-NIBE microbial consortium, the pilot plant will test the anaerobic digestion of diverse lignocellulosic and organic feedstocks such as Napier grass, agricultural residues, and food/agro-industrial waste, paving the way for scalable Compressed Biogas (CBG) production aligned with the Government of India's SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) initiative.
SBESPL in Solapur, originally established to convert municipal solid waste into biogas and fermented organic manure, has evolved into a national showcase for innovation in urban waste valorisation. With a decade of operational success, it now enters a pivotal new chapter.
The launch of the SEED/Culture-based pilot plant transforms the facility into one of India's few live platforms where cutting-edge microbial technologies are applied to complex, real-world feedstocks. This shift repositions SBESPL as not just a waste processing unit, but a strategic centre for clean energy innovation, shaping future-ready biomethanation standards and contributing meaningfully to India's circular economy and energy transition goals.
The core objectives of the pilot project include enhancing digestion rates for difficult-to-degrade biomass, maximising biogas output from non-conventional feedstocks, testing process stability and environmental sustainability, and demonstrating readiness for commercial-scale deployment.
To support long-term feedstock requirements, ORSL has also initiated large-scale cultivation of Napier grass, a high-yield, lignocellulosic crop suited for thermophilic digestion across Solapur and its peripheries.
Speaking at the inauguration, Yashas Bhand, CEO and Whole-Time Director of Organic Recycling Systems, emphasised the broader strategic intent, “The commissioning of this pilot plant represents a pivotal advancement in our long-term strategy to drive innovation-led growth within India's bioenergy landscape. This collaboration with SSS-NIBE signifies more than technological alignment, it underscores our shared commitment to the commercialization of indigenous research and the practical scaling of next-generation biomethanation technologies.”
He further added, “By validating the SEED/Culture-based process under real-world conditions, we are not only addressing critical variables in biomass digestion and gas yield but also laying the foundation for a commercially robust and operationally scalable CBG model. This pilot is a strategic enabler that will inform future deployments and help derisk upcoming investments across the sector."
Dr. Sachin Kumar, Deputy Director and Scientist at SSS-NIBE, added, “The THERMI-NIBE culture is the outcome of extensive R&D focused on enhancing the biological conversion efficiency of complex biomass. Its deployment in a real-world setting at Solapur marks a critical step in moving beyond theoretical validation toward field-proven performance.”
He further added, “By integrating this indigenous microbial consortium into a functioning biomethanation facility, we aim to establish definitive operational benchmarks for both decentralised and large-scale bioenergy systems. This initiative stands as a clear demonstration of how research-led innovation can be transformed into commercially viable and environmentally impactful clean energy solutions. Our collaboration with ORSL reflects the growing convergence between science, policy, and implementation in advancing India's energy security through indigenous technologies.”
Dr. Manju Tanwar, Chief Scientist and Head of R&D at ORSL, reflected on the innovation journey by saying, “This collaboration exemplifies the fusion of science and engineering to address India's waste valorisation challenge. The technology under validation has the potential to redefine how we generate clean, scalable bioenergy from complex organic feedstocks.”
With its successful commissioning and real-world validation, 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 directly inform the execution of India’s National Bioenergy Mission, advancing the vision of self-reliant clean energy generation through indigenous innovation and sustainable biomass utilisation.
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