Move over Indore, Varanasi is the new kid on the bloc to make energy from municipal waste. The cleanest city in the country, Indore has been earning Rs 8 crore per annum from making bio-CNG and compost and other products from solid waste. The holy city is likely to overtake Indore by employing an innovative technology – to make torrefied charcoal from garbage. Torrefied charcoal is similar to natural coal and can be burnt to produce energy.
The Municipal Corporation and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) Limited have signed an agreement. This is going to be the first such plant in the country, which is being set up in the parliamentary constituency of PM Narendra Modi. Speaking to the media, Municipal Commissioner Varanasi, Mr Pranay Singh said, “Till now the work of making coal from waste has not been done anywhere in the world. This will be the first time that the work of generating energy from waste will be done.”
20 ACRES OF LAND FOR PLANT
For the construction of the plant, the Municipal Corporation has earmarked 25 acres of land in Ramna. The plant will be constructed in 20 acres and arrangement will be made in scientific method to dispose of the waste generated during coal formation in five acres. The cost of the plant will come to Rs 180 crore.
If the utility of the plant in Varanasi is proved, then the plant will be constructed in Indore and Bhopal as well.
800 TONNES OF WASTE PROCESSING PER DAY
According to the study conducted in Dadri, 200 tonnes of coal will be made from 600 tonnes of waste. The plant is being constructed keeping in mind the next 25 years. According to the Municipal Corporation data, 600 tonnes of garbage is generated from the city every day. After the expansion of the city, about 800 tonnes of garbage is estimated to be removed. Therefore, the capacity of the plant will be more than 800 tonnes of waste processing per day.
This waste will be produced and will turn to the torrefied charcoal. It will be later be successfully blended with fuel in thermal power plant to generate electricity.
It will be operated by the manufacturing company for two years. After this the responsibility of running the plant will be handed over to the Varanasi Municipal Corporation.
ECO-FRIENDLY PLANT
The scheme will be designed in a modular fashion for assembling, testing, maintaining and replacing the individual subsystems. This plant will be odourless. The emission and noise limits will be as per norms. The plant will be surrounded by a beautiful environment.
Along with it, the waste will pass through a leachate treatment system (the method of disposal by digging a hole in the ground) to prevent the discharge of harmful substances. In addition, human exposure will be limited, as the machines installed in its operation and maintenance will be automated.
SIX RUPEES SPENT IN ONE KG OF COAL
It is clear from the study so far that it will cost Rs.6 to make one kg of coal. At the same time, wherever the plant is set up in the country to generate electricity from waste, it costs Rs 11 to 12 per unit, while the maximum sale of electricity per unit in the market is Rs 8.
