FAN Separation Technology – A Key Enabler of Clean Energy in India

A project in the Indian state of Punjab clearly illustrates how modern technology can transform environmental challenges into opportunities. In Lehragaga, Verbio Biogas India, a subsidiary of the German company Verbio Vereinigte BioEnergie AG, operates a state of the art biogas biorefinery that processes around 100,000 tonnes of rice straw per year. This agricultural residue was previously often burned in the fields, contributing significantly to air pollution. By converting this material into biomethane, the plant not only eliminates a major source of emissions, but also produces a renewable energy carrier that actively supports the objectives of India’s SATAT programme.*

A Process that Connects Climate Protection and Agriculture
From raw material collection and anaerobic digestion to gas upgrading and solid liquid separation, the entire plant process is consistently designed with sustainability in mind. The facility produces 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of biomethane per year, equivalent to around 18 tonnes per day. At the same time, valuable organic fertiliser is generated and returned to the fields, replacing mineral fertilisers and closing the nutrient cycle – a long term benefit for soil health and agricultural productivity.

Eight FAN Separators at the Heart of the Plant
At the core of the facility, eight FAN PSS 1.2-780 separators are in continuous operation – reliably, precisely and efficiently. Their task is the clean separation of solid and liquid phases, even when processing demanding, fibre-rich substrates such as rice straw. In 2025 alone, the separators produced more than 80,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser – a substantial contribution to emission reduction, efficient circular economy systems and the long term health of regional soils.

Reliability that Delivers Results
When selecting the technology, Verbio relied on proven solutions. Many years of positive experience with FAN systems in German plants were a decisive factor. Key criteria included the robust design, excellent separation performance and ease of maintenance – aspects that make a critical difference in continuous industrial operation. The Punjab project demonstrates impressively how FAN technology combines renewable energy generation, climate protection and agricultural value creation into a coherent overall concept – a future-oriented model that extends far beyond India.

* The SATAT programme (Sustainable
Alternative Towards Affordable
Transportation) is an initiative of
the Indian government aimed at
promoting the use of clean biofuels
(compressed bio gas, CBG) in the
transport sector.