Biogas Training Tour 2017 got kick started as a concurrent event along with the International Engineering and Trade Fair on 2ndFebruary, 2017at Pragati Maidan, Delhi, India. The training workshop at Delhi was organized by Indian Biogas Association (IBA) in co-operation with German Biogas Association (GBA) and with support of The Confederationof Indian Industries (CII). The first day of the workshop, i.e. 2nd Feb,2017, attracted aspiring entrepreneurs, environmental enthusiasts, research scholars, academics and NGOs, and was extremely helpful in augmenting their elementary information in Biogas. On second day, i.e. 3rdFebruary, 2017, an exclusive training workshop was organised for executives which saw representation from Municipal Corporations, Delhi Jal Board, Ex-MNRE officialand, many other government officials related to the sector. After the kick start at Delhi,the training workshop moved to Pune from 6thto 7th Feb,2017 at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER),Pune wherein it was organised with support of The Indo German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC).The final leg of the Biogas Training Tour 2017 got commenced from 8th Feb to 9th Feb at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat with support of Gujarat Energy Research Management Institute (GERMI).
The first day of the workshop at Pune and Gandhinagar attracted even higher participation from environmental enthusiasts spanning a higher mix of participants from industry as compared to Delhi. In Gandhinagar, students from the PDPU campus and adjoining colleges turned up in large numbers to attend the training workshop. A participation certificate was issued by the organizing and supporting partners of workshop (IBA, GBA and GERMI) for boosting the moral of students participants who attended the workshop on the first day in Gandhinagar. Professionals related directly or indirectly to the field found it interesting as event turned out to be informative and there remained something or the other aligned to interest of every participant.
On the second day in Pune, i.e. 7th Feb,2017, the workshop meant to address government officials saw representation from Municipal Corporations, Maharashtra Energy Development Association (MEDA),Khadi and Village Industrial Commission (KVIC), World Institute of sustainable Energy (WISE), MITCON and, many other government officials related to the sector.For Ahmedabad, the exclusive workshop on second day i.e. 9th Feb,2017 saw representation of Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department Government of Gujarat, executives from Municipal Corporations from Ahmedabad City and other adjacent cities, Gujarat Energy Development Association (GEDA), Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation (GAIC), Climate Change Department (CCD), Gujarat Cleaner production Centre (GCPC) and so on.
Overall, the training tour focused around Biogas production along with digestate showcasing different types of technology, feedstocks, existing policies and challenges surrounding the sector. Some of the topics covered featured Germany experience in Biogas, Need for Waste to Energy, Basic concepts of Biogas, Biogas Technology was reflected by a line-up of high-level speakers from Indian Biogas Association (IBA) and German Biogas Association (GBA) .The specific topic, such as Germany experience in Biogas,Need for Waste to Energy, Basic concepts of Biogas, Biogas Technology was reflected by a line-up of high-level speakers: Mr Frank Hofmann (GBA), Dr. Cladius da Costa Gomez (GBA), Mr. Gaurav Kedia(IBA) and Mr. Binod Daga (IBA). One important objective of this event was to emphasise upon experience of German Biogas Association of over 9000 successful plants in a decade time in Germany. India definitely need to take a proper understanding out of the German road map in Biogas and similar success stories can follow after customizing as per the local needs and conditions. In nutshell, the event shall be instrumental in effecting a paradigm shift in the Indian Biogas sector.The Training tour will see its next edition in the fore coming years, looking to build up on the success of the 2017 edition in terms of participation, high-level contributions and, coverage of more cities across India.