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          Punjab’s Leap Towards Bio-Energy


               he Punjab Energy Development   preventing it from being burnt and
               Agency (PEDA) has made       thus reducing air pollution.
               a significant stride towards   These projects, fostering Punjab’s
         Tsustainable energy by signing     potential in crop residue-based CBG
          a Memorandum of Understanding     plants, are in line with the state
          (MoU) with GAIL (India)           government’s business-friendly
          Limited. This agreement marks the
          commencement of 10 Compressed     policies, encouraging multinational
          Biogas (CBG) Projects in Punjab,   companies to establish their
          aimed at converting crop residue into   industries. The CBG production
          clean energy and mitigating the issue   is anticipated to generate direct
          of stubble burning.               employment for over 250 individuals
           The MoU, signed by Dr. Amarpal   and indirect employment for about
                                            600. Additionally, this will create
          Singh, CEO of PEDA, and RK        opportunities for approximately 50
          Singhal, Executive Director at    rural entrepreneurs.
          GAIL (India), was overseen by Dr.
          Ravi Bhagat, Secretary of New      GAIL (India) Limited plans to
          and Renewable Energy Sources.     invest about Rs 600 crores in these
          The initiative, aligned with Chief   projects, which will annually produce
          Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s    35,000 tons of Biogas (CBG) and
          vision, is expected to manage around   approximately 8,700 tons of organic
          5 Lakh tons of paddy straw annually,   manure.





          Robotics Transforming Petroleum Tank Cleaning


                 n IIT Guwahati-incubated   his experiences in tank operations.   received recognition for its work,
                 startup, Beta Tank Robotics,   The startup’s journey reflects the   winning the Best Start-up Award at
                 is revolutionising the    combined efforts of innovative    the India Energy Week Summit in
         Apetroleum industry with          thinking and strategic support,   Bengaluru in February 2023. The
          the introduction of robotic solutions   including from OIL India Limited   company is currently focusing on
          for cleaning petroleum tanks.    under the Startup India Fund.     expanding its applications in the
          This innovation is set to enhance   Beta Tank Robotics has already   petroleum industry, adhering to
          safety, reduce costs, and promote                                  stringent safety standards.
          environmental responsibility in the
          oil sector.
           Founded in 2019 and incubated at
          IIT Guwahati’s Technology Incubation
          Centre, Beta Tank Robotics has
          developed two types of robots. The
          first type cleans crude oil tank bottom
          sludge, while the second is designed
          for water washing and stripping retail
          outlet petrol pump tanks. These robots
          can perform these tasks without
          human entry into the hazardous
          environments of petroleum tanks.
           Capt. D Chandrasekhar, the founder
          of Beta Tank Robotics, was inspired
          to develop these robots based on


               DECEMBER 2023•Clean India Journal
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