CEE Jan-Mar 2012

.... calorific value depends on the original composition of urban wastewaters and treatment method selected to pre-process sludge. Typical sewage sludge calorific values range from 2,500 to about 4,000 Kcai/Kg in the dry form. This is an Energy content which is 35 - 60 per cent of the coal energy value. Solar energy: Many of the cement plants are located in the midst of forest, where there is ample sunshine. India being abundant with sunshine at least eight months in a year, setting up solar farms to produce electricity to run cement plants will help in reducing dependence on coal. Wind power can be harnessed to power up cement plants. Generating power through alternative fuels is entitled to tax rebate. Waste heat recovery plant: Energy generation in cement works arises from the waste heat collected form the burning process in the cooling and pre– heating stages. The energy harnessed is used for auxiliary power. The waste heat can be converted into electrical energy by means of a steam turbine generator. However, fully exploiting these resources demands highly-efficient technology. SICEMENT Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) systems offer goal-oriented solutions - these require a relatively low initial investment and deliver cost-effective energy over many years. Courtesy: Konstruction Review, Nov. 14, 2011 P6. CEMEX USES FUEL WASTE TO POWER KILNS Mexican cement maker Cemex has started using garbage waste from Mexico City to power its kiln in Puebla. The agreement between the quartermaster of the city and the directors of the company came after the closure of Bordo Poniente dump, the largest landfill in Latin America, because it is saturated . The garbage collection was reorganized for Cemex. The company accepts PET containers, chlorine-free plastics, paper, cardboard, and wood tetrapacks to convert them into fuel. Courtesy: Construction Industry Review, February 06, 2012, P10. '----R_e_n_ewa~nergy J STATES: TIME FOR TRYST WITH GREEN ENERGY After many years of dithering, India has in the recent past, created a reasonably favourable framework for development of renewables - both grid and off-grid. This includes legal , policy procedural, fiscal, and regulatory measures. What is probably lacking is an overarching legal framework in the form of a Renewable Energy Law. Loopholes apart, well begun is half done. So overall, a positive environment is developing for accelerating the much needed transition to new energy technologies . However, much of initiative till now has been at the central government level. It is high time for the action to now shift to the states. In fact the states are where the action should be. Power is a concurrent subject under our constitution-enabling both the centre and the states to take initiatives in the sector without waiting for either to begin. Not that the states are sitting idle. Some of the states like Tamil Nadu pioneered the 47