--- title: "Briquette and biogas in Nepal" subject: "Energy Environment and Society" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:briquette-biogas-nepal" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/briquette-biogas-nepal site: BCT Engineering --- # Briquette and biogas in Nepal Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 3: Renewable Energy Sources - Asked in: 2069 Chaitra, 4 marks; year not given - Video: [Biogas - A New Source of Energy for Nepal | Global Ideas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oITIZslDbCA) — DW News - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/briquette-biogas-nepal - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-3 ## Question Write briefly about briquette and biogas as energy sources in the context of Nepal. Describe the types, uses and advantages of briquetting. ## Short answer Briquettes are compressed biomasstresidue blocks used for cooking and heating; types include raw, carbonissed, and different press methods. They provide cheap local fuel, reduce deforestation, and offer high density. Biogas in Nepal uses over 4,00,000 fixed-dome plants for cooking and lighting, saving firewood and producing organic manure. ## Answer #### Briquette **Briquettes** are compressed blocks of biomass residue (sawdust, rice husk, charcoal dust, leaves, forest litter, banmara or *Lantana* and *Eupatorium* weeds, paper) used as fuel. In Nepal they are made with press machines, often with a binder, to replace firewood, coal and kerosene. **Types** 1. **Raw / non-carbonised briquettes:** pressed directly from dried residue. 2. **Carbonised briquettes (charcoal briquettes):** biomass is first carbonised, then pressed with a binder. 3. **By method of production:** screw press, piston (ram) press, hand-operated or roller press (low pressure); and by shape: cylindrical, hexagonal, with a hole (honeycomb). **Uses** - Household cooking and heating (cold areas), restaurants and hotels. - Industries: brick kilns, boilers, tea and cardamom drying, and cottage industries. **Advantages** - Cheap local fuel from waste; reduces firewood and forest cutting. - Higher density and uniform shape, easy to transport and store. - Burns slowly with less smoke and ash than raw biomass; higher heating value (15–20 MJ/kg). - Creates rural jobs and helps manage waste. #### Biogas Biogas is a mixture of methane (55–65%) and CO₂ produced by anaerobic digestion of dung and organic waste. Nepal has one of the most successful domestic biogas programmes in the developing world: more than 400,000 plants (most are fixed-dome GGC 2047 design) were installed with support from the Biogas Support Programme and AEPC, covering mostly Tarai and mid-hills. Uses: cooking, lighting, small engines; slurry as organic manure. Benefits: cleaner kitchen, saves women's time, lower firewood use, carbon credits (CDM). Large institutional and municipal biogas plants are also promoted, and the potential is estimated at nearly 1.9 million household plants. Limits: needs water and cattle dung and works poorly at high altitude (cold temperature). ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What are briquettes? A. Compressed blocks of biomass residue used as fuel B. Liquid biofuels C. Gas from dung D. Charcoal imported from India Answer: A. Briquettes are pressed biomass residues like sawdust and rice husk. (Key point: Briquette definition) 2. How do carbonised briquettes differ from raw ones? A. Biomass is carbonised first and then pressed with a binder B. They are pressed without drying C. They contain no biomass D. They are made by fermentation Answer: A. Raw briquettes are pressed directly from dried residue while carbonised ones are made from charcoal. (Key point: Types of briquettes) 3. Which is an advantage of briquettes over raw biomass? A. Lower density B. Higher density, easy to store and transport and burns slowly with less smoke C. More smoke and ash D. Needs more forest cutting Answer: B. Densification improves handling and burning, and reduces firewood use. (Key point: Advantages of briquettes) 4. Which statement about biogas in Nepal is correct? A. It works best at very high altitude B. Most plants are fixed-dome GGC 2047 design under BSP/AEPC with over 400,000 installed C. Plants use only wood D. It requires no water Answer: B. Nepal's programme is successful in the Tarai and mid-hills, but cold altitude limits it. 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