Cement, Energy & Environment

cities are planning to develop WtE plants in partnership with private firms. As per the estimates of the Ministry of Urban Development, India generates about 65 million tonnes of solid waste annually. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's recent estimates, the country has the potential to generate about 4,000 MW of power from such waste by 2013, which is expected to rise to about 5,000 MW by 2017. This potential can be realized only if the challenges faced by the segment are addressed. These include non-availability of segregated waste and lack of technological expertise. Protests by local communities and NGOs owing to environmental issues are also a concern. Current status As on September 30, 2012, around 93.68 MW of grid-interactive urban and industrial WtE plants had been commissioned in India. In the off-grid segment, urban and industrial WtE plants, aggregating 108.94 MW capacity, had been commissioned. Over the past three years, the WtE segment has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 27 per cent. In 2012-2013, against a target capacity addition of 40 MW, the segment has added only 11 .19 MW in the first six months, of which 4 MW is grid connected . Progress in 2012 -13 has been modest as compared to the corresponding period in 2011-2012, during which the segment witnessed a capacity add ition of around 6.58 MW. As on March 30, 2012, the cumulative capacity of WtE projects in India stood at 191.43 MW, of which 89.68 MW was grid connected. Owing to the growing concern regarding overflowing landfill sites, municipal corporations Picture courtesy: Ccn:ord Blue Technology have been keen to award WtE projects to developers through public-private partnerships but have not been very successful so far. At present, there are only three operational urban WtE plants in the country - Jindal ITF Ecopolis' 16 MW plant in Okhla, Delhi; Concord Blue Technology's 10 MW plant in Hadapsar, Pune; and Organic Recycling Systems Limited's 4 MW plant in Solapur, Maharashtra. A pipeline of WtE projects is currently at various stages of planning and implementation. Organic Recycling Systems, along with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, is developing an 8.2 MW plant on a build-own-operate-transfer basis at Mandur. The plant entails a total investment of Rs.1.5 billion and will have the capacity to process 1,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of municipal solid waste . Also , the plant will produce 150-200 tpd of compost and would ensure carbon emission reduction of about 170,000 tonnes per annum. The project is expected to be commissioned by early 2014. Another such plant is being developed by the Ramky Group in partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi at Narela Bawana. The 32 MW plant, being developed at a cost of Rs 5 billion , is expected to process about 8,000 tpd . The project is likely to be commissioned by 2014. Concord Blue Technology has secured WtE projects from municipal corporations across the country. The company will set up a 1,000 tpd WtE plant in Surat, Gujarat; a 300 tpd WtE plant in Maida, West Bengal; a 350 tpd plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra; and a 100 TPD plant in Sikar, Rajasthan. The company has also been contracted by the Manipal Group to develop a WtE plant in Udupi for generating power for the local community. 34 I