The Goethe-Institut, Sri Lanka – German Cultural Centre, in collaboration with the German Alumni Association of Sri Lanka recently organized a public lecture by Biogas proponent Dr. Andreas Gronauer, Vice Chairman of the Institute of Agriculture technique of the Bavarian State Research Unit in the Federal Republic of Germany, a project of 150 researchers.

The lecture was touted as a preliminary step to a more intensive 4-day workshop to be held soon which is hoped would result in the development of an industrial scale model for a Biogas plant for Sri Lanka, a plant which would increase the capacity of Biogas to a whole new generation, in excess of 2,500 cubic metres, compared to the existing highest capacity plant, which now allows 35 cubic metres.

Entitled “Sustainable Development – Challenges & Potential for Industrial Biogas Production in Sri Lanka”, this presentation by Dr. Gronauer at the German Cultural Centre Auditorium proved to be an in-depth look at the best practices that have resulted in Biogas becoming a significant renewable energy resource in Germany, a country which yields 8.6% of its energy capacity from renewable sources.

The presentation further drew stark contrasts between Germany’s efficiencies with renewable energy and Sri Lanka’s by implying that Germany’s stricter regulatory framework had resulted over the last decade in a significant trend reversal in energy resources which, when coupled with its ongoing war on global warming, resulted in enhanced focus on energy efficiencies and renewable resources. Ultimately, the lecture was used to create awareness amongst laypeople about the basics of the Biogas production process, including what is Biogas, how is it produced, what can it be used for, what resources are required for its production, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of Biogas production.