Demand for biogas units has soared during the LPG crisis, with households and hotels increasingly turning to the fuel as an environmentally friendly alternative. This shift has led to an increase in bookings, which is helping reduce dependence on conventional fuels and promoting sustainability, experts said.
Divya Johnson, a university lecturer, installed a biogas station in her residence a few months ago. When the crisis hit, her family was largely untouched. “We are much less dependent on LPG now and a bottle lasts almost three months. The biogas station provides a constant daily supply of gas which has been a big help,” said Mrs Johnson.
Bookings from both businesses and households have seen an increase, said A. Sajidas, CEO of a firm that manufactures and supplies biogas units. “Biogas is a more sustainable alternative to wood-burning fireplaces. It helps manage organic waste at source while generating cooking gas. The LPG crisis has made people realize the need to reduce dependency on supplies and look for reliable and sustainable options like biogas,” he added.
However, the main problem is the lack of subsidies. “The big problem is the absence of government support. Previously, the systems offered up to 90% subsidy and without it the income was limited. This changed after the LPG crisis, when more people turned to biogas units,” said Alfred Bernard, CEO of another company. “We are now receiving orders for both new installations and revival of old units. A functioning biogas station can reduce LPG consumption by up to 50% every month,” he added.
Biogas unit prices vary from company to company, typically ranging from ₹16,000 to ₹50,000 for households. Mr Sajidas said the cost could be fully recouped within two to three years of use.
Ernakulam district panchayat president KG Radhakrishnan said the subsidy is currently limited to large capacity units installed in institutions. “There is currently no subsidy for household systems. We will have to examine the possibility of introducing one under the State Plan,” he added.
Kochi Corporation Secretary PS Shibu said biogas units are not provided or subsidized at present. “We rely on a centralized waste management system and even earlier collection was limited. However, we provide bio-bins,” he added.
Published – 05 Apr 2026 0:58 IST
