IndianOil, NTPC, and SDMC, to build waste-to-energy plant
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil), NTPC, India’s largest power utility, and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) have signed a tripartite MoU to develop waste-to-energy facilities at SDMC’s landfill site in Okhla, in the East Delhi district of Delhi, India.
According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU), SDMC would provide a one-acre land on lease at the landfill site, while IndianOil and NTPC will invest 50% each towards setting up and operating the facilities.
The demonstration plant will convert 50 tonnes per day (TPD) of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), obtained from segregated municipal solid waste (MSW), to produce synthesis gas, or syngas, which shall in turn be used to generate electricity. The plant will deploy the state-of-the-art plasma gasification technology, which can process different kinds of wastes such as MSW/RDF, industrial waste, biomass, pet-coke, bio-medical waste and hazardous waste generated by some industries. The technology produces high-quality syngas per tonne of waste with zero pollution for more net power generation. All inerts are converted to vitrified slag, which can be used as road or building aggregates and also in manufacturing sanitary-ware and decorative tiles. The plant shall be designed as a zero liquid discharge plant with reduced water requirement.
About 3,750 metric tonnes (MT) of municipal solid waste is being generated daily at the SDMC facility, out of which 50% is being processed presently. After the successful implementation of this MOU, the capacity of this proposed plant will be enhanced to achieve 100% processing of municipal waste. SDMC will become the first municipal corporation to achieve this remarkable feat.
India’s National Policy on Biofuels envisages the promotion of biofuels from municipal waste to reduce the country’s dependence on imported crude oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the production of renewable fuels using indigenous feedstock, besides the reduction of health and environmental hazards and wastes. Gasification converts carbon-containing material such as biomass, MSW, pet-coke, etc., to syngas. The syngas can be turned into high-value commercial products such as alcohols, synthetic methane, hydrogen, etc. or generate electricity.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (I/c), Power and New & Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh, the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, as well as other dignitaries.
