By Tricitynews
Chandigarh 16th May:- In recognition of the outstanding
contribution of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to biotechnology and
biological sciences, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science
and Technology, has selected TERI for its ‘Biotech Product, Process Development
and Commercialization Award 2018’. The award was jointly conferred to TERI, the
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) Trust,
by Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science and Technology, Environment, Forest
and Climate Change, and Earth Sciences, on the occasion of Technology Day.
TERI has been awarded for its in-situ
generation of methane from coal bed through microbial intervention that can
enhance the production of coal bed methane (CBM). The resource represents a
significant portion of the world’s natural gas reserves, and it has been
suggested that up to 20 per cent of the world’s natural gas, including CBM, is
microbial in origin. However, drilling and maintaining microbial CBM is becoming
less economical due to current, relatively low gas prices and competition from
shale gas production. In view of the benefits of microbial process for
conversion of coal to methane in the CBM wells, TERI has been working on
development and demonstration of microbial process for in-situ
generation/enhancement of methane from underground coal seams.
TERI, OEC, and ONGC researchers have
discovered a way to produce a three to four-fold increase in the amount of
methane gas emitted by naturally occurring microbes living in coal seams. TERI,
OEC and ONGC formed a partnership on Demonstration of in-situ stimulation and
bioaugumentation for methane generation/enhancement from producing CBM wells of
Jharia, which is deploying this technology for industrial application of
methane production in coal seams gas wells operated by ONGC. TERI has cultured
the microbes in the laboratory and created the same condition as found in the
coal seams for domestic use. The innovation benefited the environment by
extending the lifespan of coal seam gas wells, as well as improving the
economics of using woody crops and left-over food as commercial sources of
biogas.
Expressing his delight, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI, said
that it is an
honour for TERI to receive this award for its pioneering work around in-situ
generation of methane from coal bed. As we work hard to bring our solutions to
the market, awards like these work as positive reinforcements and create an
environment of strong support for organisations working across the biotech
spectrum.
Dr
Banwari Lal, Senior Director, TERI, expressed his appreciation
for DBT for the initiative, which was started in 2001. He also expressed his
gratitude to OEC and ONGC for their support and guidance in developing the
award-winning technology. He said that it is in the process of
commercialization, which will pave the way for clean energy in the future and
eventually reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Dr
Meeta Lavania, Fellow, TERI, who received the award on behalf of
the institution, expressed her immense pleasure at receiving the prestigious national
award. She said that this technology will open up more opportunities/avenues
for sustainable and environment-friendly forms of energy in the future.
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