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Consolidated Reply
Query: Municipal Solid Waste, Sewage, Green House Gases and Clean Development Mechanism Projects - Experiences, Referrals
Compiled by Ramesh K. Jalan, Resource Person and Kirtiman Awasthi, Research Associate
Issue Date: 09 October 2009
From Pramod Dabrase, Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal
Posted 27 August 2009
I work with the Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh as a Sanitation Expert. The Department is implementing the recently launched Integrated Urban Sanitation Programme, which aims to achieve totally sanitized and healthy cities and towns in consonance with the National Urban Sanitation Policy-2008. The program offers an excellent opportunity to implement innovative, environmentally sound and sustainable technologies.
It is known that incineration, open dumping of municipal solid waste and untreated sewage emits gases like methane and carbon dioxide. These are the main constituents of Green House Gases, responsible for global warming leading to Climate Change.
There are few examples in India where, ‘waste to energy’ projects have been successfully implemented and that too on a limited scale only. These projects can generate Certified Emission Reduction (CERs) through reduction in GHG emissions which could be sold in the market like any other commodity. The revenue generated through Clean Development Mechanism would encourage implementation of such projects in greater numbers. This will also protect the environment and mitigate climate change.
I would like members to share their experiences about such practices across Indian cities and towns in context to sanitation, municipal solid waste management and sewage treatment. I request members to respond to the following:
- Experiences of successful projects that could benefit municipalities by sustainable treatment/ conversion of municipal solid waste & sewage into usable products and energy.
- References of agencies in India that are offering services to take advantage of the CDM mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol
Responses were received, with thanks, from
1. Pradeep Dadlani, Sycom Projects Consultants Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi
2. Kruti Patel, Sahjeevan, Bhuj
3. Prahladji B. Vihol, Synefra Engineering and Construction Ltd, Vadodra (Response1;Response 2)
4. Suman K Apparusu, Independent Consultant, Hyderabad (Response 1; Response 2)
5. Laxmi Prasad Pant, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
6. Abhishek Mendiratta, Jupiter Knowledge Management and Innovative Concepts Private Limited (JKMIC), New Delhi
7. Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi (Response 1;Response 2 *)
8. Anil Arora, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi
9. P. V. Unnikrishnan, Kerala State Planning Board, Kerala
10. Vandana Tatra, AFC Foundation, New Delhi
11. Mustafa Ali Khan, Development Alternatives, New Delhi
12. Lata Iyer, Consultant, New Delhi
13. M. Narayana Rao, Centre for Environment, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
14. Sandip Pawar, Art Of Living- Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Bangalore & Vag Shantharam Shenai, Green Ocean Eco Solutions, Oman
15. L.C. Nagaraj, SVARAJ, Bangalore
*Offline Contribution
Further contributions are welcome!
Municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage generation in India has significantly increased over the years from 6 million tons in 1947 to over 69 million tons in 2006 according to the National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) and is becoming a major environmental issue. Government of India in its National Urban Sanitation Policy 2008 envisages totally sanitized and healthy cities. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) launched by the Government of India in December 2005 in 63 cities also has MSW management and sewage treatment as a key component.
One important issue with MSW/ sewage is the emission of green house gases (GHG) and according to The Energy and Resource Institute (2006) GHG emissions intensity from waste generation in India in terms of gm per US$ 1000 Purchasing Power Parity is only 4 when compared to 23 for USA, 10 for UK and 8 for Germany. Management of MSW and municipal sewage offers possibility of reducing GHG emissions and thus contributing to Climate Change mitigation. MSW contributes only about 2 per cent of the total GHG emissions in terms of CO2 equivalents according to the State of Environment Report (2009). Government of Madhya Pradesh’s recently launched initiative— Urban Sanitation Programme— is in the same direction, where Government is trying to implement innovative, environmentally sound and sustainable technologies.
Improved waste management includes converting waste into useful products like compost recyclable materials and also energy. This is important with land becoming scarce and prices increasing throughout the country less wastes needs to be sent to the landfills. Further, alternate and new dumping/land filling sites are available only far away from the city. This increases transportation costs and also emissions of GHG due to transportation.
Sewage treatment on the other hand promotes water conservation by preventing pollution from untreated discharges to surface water, groundwater, soils, and coastal zones. The treated wastewater can be reused for agricultural and horticultural irrigation, fish aquaculture, artificial recharge of aquifers, or industrial applications.
Initiatives
India witnessed sporadic attempts in late 1990s in terms of development of waste to energy technologies such as converting MSW into Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) pellets to be used in thermal power plant. Numbers of plants have come up that produce energy using RDF like in Vijayawada, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Chandigarh. However, the maximum capacity of any of these plants is less than 500 tons per day (5-6 MW) and attempts made to scale up this technology beyond 5-6 MW of power generation have been very limited. The Municipal Corporation in Delhi awarded two projects of 16 MW and 10 MW based on the RDF technology but they are yet to be functional. Two more RDF plants are also under implementation in Ajmer and Bikaner in Rajasthan. Based on the RDF technology, Waste-to-Energy plant in Malaysia has been successfully running. Cochin Waste-to-Energy project in Karnataka is a much cited project where it plans to gasify both municipal and industrial waste to be used for power generation.
Gujarat has taken initiative to process fruit and vegetable waste to generate biogas, which was then utilized for some of the near by institutions. Municipal Corporations in Pune and Coimbatore are using the Effective Micro-organism (EM) technology and the composted waste is used as fertilizer. UNDP—GEF along with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have put up number of Waste-to-Energy demonstration projects in different parts of the country, using different technologies. Some of them use vegetable and fruit waste. Most of these projects qualify for benefits under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Another option is vermi-composting of MSW. It also fetches good price in the market. Vermi-composting using SHG in Surat and Bharuch District of Gujarat has helped in generating extra income. Members suggested replicating the same to manage municipal wastes. Composting though has not been institutionalized to be implemented on a large scale. Other options of MSW management are “controlled landfill” that reduces GHG emissions, through gas recovery plans.
Constraints
Most of the treatment technologies require segregation of waste, which if done at an early stage in the MSW operations (e.g. at source or near the source), also results in lesser quantity of MSW being transported to the processing site, making it more viable. In segregation and recycling rag pickers have been playing an important role so far and therefore it is imperative to integrate traditional waste handlers for MSW management.
One of the constraints is the economy of scale. Technologies that are appropriate and tailor-made for Indian MSW need to be introduced on a large and replicable scale in order to take advantage of economies of scale.
Countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland apply an environment abatement tax on waste generation and use the revenue for better waste management services. The members suggested the same approach in India for better waste management services. There is lot of fluctuation in waste quantity and quality. Members suggested diversification of sources of waste and involving local communities to ensure long term sustainability. Possibility also exists of having Self Help Groups (SHG) of junk yard operators and rag pickers for waste collection and supply to Waste-to-Energy plants. This would create employment opportunities for rag pickers and ensure waste supply for power plants. Integrated Municipal Waste Management with single entity responsibility and accountability in all municipalities of the country is the need of the hour and needs to be implemented expeditiously.
CDM Potential
The CDM has the potential to promote MSW management through composting, waste to energy, landfill gas recovery etc. CDM as an additional income source could improve the economic viability of alternative options like waste-to-energy. Numbers of agencies have been involved in providing consultancy for Clean Development Mechanism for municipal wastes related projects. The Carbon Finance Unit at the World Bank is an active player in the Carbon Credits business in India. Many agencies involved in registering projects under CDM include IL&FS Ecosmart, Ernst & Young, ICF International, Emergent Ventures, and Ecosecurities India etc. The work done by IL&FS Ecosmart and Ernst & Young with reference to registering CDM projects involving MSW in Delhi and Mumbai is crucial for viability gap funding of these projects. Up gradation of composting facility at Okhla in Delhi and Gorai Landfill Closure and Gas Capture Project in Mumbai are some of the successful projects implemented by IL&FS Ecosmart. Ernst & Young have been involved in registering the Okhla and Ghazipur projects of Delhi under CDM.
Gujarat
Converting Vegetable/ Fruit Waste to Energy, Anand (from Kruti Patel, Sahjeevan, Bhuj)
Developed by Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI), the concept was tested at a pilot plant at Anand municipality with a capacity to handle 100 kg waste. The waste from the vegetable market undergoes biomethanation to produce methane. The gas produced is utilized by nearby institutions. More such plants are planned for Mother Dairy in Delhi and Agriculture Produce Marketing Corporations (APMCs) in Ahmedabad.
Using Self Help Groups for Vermi-composting, Anand (from Prahladji B. Vihol, Synefra Engineering and Construction Ltd)
Self Help Groups (SHGs) is the best platform for carrying out vermicomposting. SHG members can sell the excess vermi-compost in the market at Rs. 2 to 3 per Kg. SHG in Surat and Bharuch districts of Gujarat are earning from sale of vermi-compost.
Maharashtra
Using Effective Microorganism for Composting (from Prahladji B. Vihol, Synefra Engineering and Construction Ltd, Vadodra)
Pune Municipal Corporation is using Effective Microorganism (EM) technology for waste management. The EM technology reduces foul smell andproduces high quality compost. Presently, about 600 tonnes of waste is composted using the EM technology; the compost is then supplied to farmers free of cost. Similar technology has also been adopted by Coimbatore Municipal Corporations.
Kerala
Gasification of Municipal/ Industrial Waste, Cochin (from Suman K Apparusu, Independent Consultant, Hyderabad)
Launched by the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cochin Waste 2 Energy project is based on the concept to produce energy from municipal and industrial waste. The waste (including agro and animal waste) is collected and fed into the gasifier. Gasification converts the waste into clean fuel. The clean fuel is known as syngas then can be used to produce electricity. The electricity generated will be supplied to the grid of the Kochi port. Read more…
Delhi
Waste to Energy Using RDF in Delhi (from Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi)
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi along with IL&FS Limited is demonstrating waste to energy technology through RDF. In Delhi, after extensive international competitive bidding two projects one to generate 16 MW of power and another for 10 MW were awarded and are at various stages of implementation. Both these projects are registered under CDM for Certified Emission Reductions for ten years from the date of commercial production. Read more...
UNDP-GEF Projects on Waste-To-Energy (from Anil Arora, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi)
UNDP/ GEF in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has piloted a waste-to-energy project. Sixteen demonstration projects on waste-to-energy through biomethanation processes has been set up in different parts of the country, using different technologies. Most of these projects qualify for CDM benefits.
Andhra Pradesh
Waste To Energy Using RDF (from Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi)
Two MSW based power plants—in Hyderabad (6.6 MW) and Vijayawada (6 MW) were commissioned in 2003. The projects produce RDF from MSW and use it for power generation. The Hyderabad plant procures waste the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad while in Vijayawada it gets MSW from Guntur and Vijayawada. Before it was shut down due to technical reasons, the plant in Vijayawada used to supply 40 million units of electricity every day to AP Transco.
Malaysia
Pellates from Waste to Feed Thermal Power Plant (from Lata Iyer, Consultant, New Delhi)
Based on the “waste to energy” process developed and patented by K. Siva Prasad in India in 1989, the 9-MW-a-day power plant in Kajang area near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia became operation in early 2007. The waste collected is segregated and compacted into pellets. Pellets are burnt in thermal power plant to produce electricity. Segregated plastic and metal waste is recycled.
Recommended Organizations and Programmes
Carbon Finance Unit, the World Bank (from Pradeep Dadlani, Sycom Projects Consultants Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi)
The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington DC 20433 USA; Tel: +1-202-4731000; Fax: +1-202-4776391; http://web.worldbank.org/
Uses money contributed by governments and companies in OECD countries to purchase carbon credits in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
Clean Development Mechanism (from Kruti Patel, Sahjeevan, Bhuj)
Contact CDM Secretariat at http://cdm.unfccc.int/contact.
Created under Kyoto Protocol, CDM allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries which can traded and sold in industrialized countries as CERs to meet their emission reduction targets.
From Suman K Apparusu, Independent Consultant, Hyderabad
Cochin Waste To Energy, Cochin
Cochin Waste to Energy Pvt Ltd, P.B. No. 503, Bristow Road, Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala-682003; Tel: +91-484-2666348; Fax: +91-484-2668651; www.cochinwaste2energy.com;
Initiatied by Cochin Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Cochin W2E Project was set up with technical expertise from W2E USA Inc. and TeamSustain (O& M Partner).
EcoSecurities, Unit No 302, Plot No 8, Elegance Tower, NHCC- Jasola, New Delhi; Tel: +91-11- 40641000;india@ecosecurities.com; www.ecosecurities.com;
Develops and supplies emission reductions, for compliance and voluntary markets; Provide support on finance, technology in various sectors like waste management
5th Floor, Universal Trade Tower, Gurgaon-Sohna Road, Sector-49
Gurgaon - 122001, Haryana; Tel: +91-124-4353100; Fax: +91-124-4102980; contact@emergent-ventures.com; http://www.emergent-ventures.
A leading carbon advisory and emission reduction firm providing carbon emission reduction and voluntary emissions reduction services in climate mitigation area.
Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Ecosmart (from Vandana Tatra, AFC Foundation, New Delhi)
3rd Floor, Ambience Corporate Tower, Ambience Mall, Ambience Island, National Highway No. 8, Gurgaon- 122001 Haryana; Tel: +91-124-4716600; Fax: +91-124-4716638; info@ilfsecosmart.com;http://www.ilfsecosmart.com/
Focuses on environmental sector and provides consulting services to project developers, belonging to public and private sectors as well as financial institutions.
From Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi
Technology, Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)
Department of Science and Technology (DST), A- Wing, Vishwakarma Bhavan, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi 110016; Tel: +91-11-26592600, 42525600; Fax: +91-11-26961158 tifacinfo@tifac.org.in;http://www.tifac.org.in/;
Set up in 1988, TIFAC assess the technology trajectories and support technology innovation by network actions in select technology areas of national importance
http://www.ey.com/IN/en/
Helps organizations with their CDM projects through range of services across the CDM project cycle including project identification, documentation, facilitation etc.
Thapar House, 2nd Floor, Western Wing, Janpath Lane, 124, Janpath, New Delhi– 110001; Tel: +91-11-43543000; Fax: +91-11-43543001 info@icfi.com; http://www.icfi.com/;
Provide expertise in the area of GHG emission inventories, carbon market analysis, mitigation policy analysis, and assessment of impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (from Anil Arora, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi)
Block-14, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,New Delhi-110 003; Tel: +91-11-24361298/ 24360707; Fax: +91-11-24361830; http://mnes.nic.in/;
A nodal Ministry for matters relating to renewable energy with an aim to develop and deploy new and renewable energy for supplementing the energy requirements.
Development Alternatives, New Delhi(from Mustafa Ali Khan, Development Alternatives, New Delhi)
Development Alternatives, 111/9-Z, Kishangarh, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi- 110070; Tel: +91-11- 26134103/ 26890380; Fax: +91-11-26130817 tara@devalt.org; http://www.devalt.org/;
A non profit organisation working on sustainable development through innovation, development and dissemination of appropriate technologies and institutional systems.
Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (from P. V. Unnikrishnan, Kerala State Planning Board, Kerala)
Local Self Government Department, 5th Floor, Trans toweer, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvanathapuram- 695014; Tel: +91-471-2332858; Fax: +91-471-23325856 pdksudp@gmail.com; http://ksudp.org/; Contact T.K. Jose; Secretary, Local Self Government Department; secretarylsgd@gmail.com
ADB assisted project, covers five municipal corporations in Kerala with an objectives to improve urban environment, economy, and living conditions for people.
Recommended Portals and Information Bases
Urban Solid Waste Management, World Bank (from Kirtiman Awasthi, Reearch Associate)
http://go.worldbank.org/
Provides overview of urbal solid waste and key obstacles in its mangament mangament; Also provides links to projects and documents related to solid waste management.
Recommended Tools and Technologies
Vermicomposting (from Prahladji B. Vihol, Synefra Engineering and Construction Ltd, Vadodra)
Biological process of organic waste decomposition; Available at http://www.vermicompost.net/.
Form of composting that utilizing various species of worms like earthworms to produce heterogeneous mixture of decomposing waste; manure is the end-product .
Refused Derived Fuel (from Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi)
Available at http://www.waste-technology.
Fuel produced by dehydrating MSW and consists largely of organic components of municipal waste; Can be used in a variety of ways to produce electricity.
Biological Product; Owned by EM Research Organization, Inc., Japan. Available at http://emrojapan.com/. Contact EM Research Organization, Inc. at overseas@emro.co.jp
Developed in 1982 primarily for agriculture uses, EM is a mixture of co-existing microbes. EM is now also used for environmental remediation, composting organic waste etc.
Waste-To-Energy Projects By IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (from Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi)
Document;
Available at http://www.solutionexchange-
Provides details of completed and on going waste-to-energy projects implemented by IL&FS.
Related Consolidated Replies
Developing City Sanitation Plans, from Pramod Dabrase, Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal (Experiences; Examples). Water Community, India,
Issued 29 June 2009. Available at http://www.solutionexchange-
Provides inputs on developing Capital Investment Plans, sanitation based livelihood and entrepreneurship models and the success stories on urban sanitation.
Pradeep Dadlani, Sycom Projects Consultants Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi
The Municipalities could benefit immensely by sustainable treatment/conversion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)/municipal sewage. The garbage, if left to rot in the dumping ground, could release huge quantities of landfill gas which contains high percentage of methane. Thus the control of landfill gas is a preferred option.
Similarly, the MSW/ Municipal Sewage if treated properly, would result in generation of resources (Compost, Refuse Derived Fuel pellets, Energy etc) as well as reducing the quantum of waste going for the landfill. As the land costs are getting dearer by the day in the Urban areas, with proper MSW/ municipal sewage treatment, the same tract of land, being used for dumping/land-filling, could be made to last for a longer period. It is estimated that 30,000- 40,000 tonnes of MSW generation occupies almost 1 acre area, equivalent to 100 tonnes per day (TPD) of MSW. If we are able to process 400 TPD of MSW in a sustainable manner, at least 3-4 acres of land is saved every year.
The alternate and new dumping/land filling sites are available at quite a distance away from the city. Thus shifting to a new site, due to faster utilization of the land by not processing/treating the MSW, also leads to increased transportation costs for the Urban Local Bodies.
Most of the treatment technologies require segregation of waste, which if done at an early stage in the MSW operations (e.g. at source or near the source), also results in lesser quantity of MSW being transported to the processing site, making it more viable.
Mixing of Municipal Sewage processing remains (e.g. sludge from sewage treatment plant) with MSW has also been used successfully in some cities.
The Agencies offering such Services
The Carbon Finance Business (CFB) at the World Bank apart from many other multilateral and bilateral developmental agencies as well as the Governments of some European and American countries are active players in the Carbon Credits business in India.
Many large MNCs and foreign consultants are involved in the validation process as well as facilitating trade in Carbon Credits in India.
Kruti Patel, Sahjeevan, Bhuj
I work in Kutch, Gujarat on promotion of solar technologies. Recently I had seen an initiative at Anand in Gujarat, whereby municipality collaborated with research institute called Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI) and used fruit and vegetable waste from markets to generate biogas, which was then utilized for some of the near by institutions.
Regarding CDM agencies, you could look at the listing from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website, which has regular updates. And as you have rightly put in, Methane and Nitrouns Oxide have huge potential to earn carbon credits; It may become an interesting proposition.
Prahladji B. Vihol, Synefra Engineering and Construction Ltd, Vadodra
For Solid waste management, I read that in Pune and Coimbtore Municipal Corporations are using the Effective Micro-organism (EM) technology. EM-composted municipal waste is taken by the nearby farmers for their field. EM is a mixture of naturally occurring microorganisms which has a strong effect on the growth of plants. For composting of organic waste, vermi-composting is also one of the most suitable composting method.
There is a good rate in the market for vermin-compost which is very useful for crops, vegetables crops, horticulture, floriculture etc. Vermi-composting require about 45 days for completing the composting process. There are also some other composting methods that can be used for organic waste like pit composting, indoor composting etc. These methods require about 3 months for composting.
Suman K Apparusu, Independent Consultant, Hyderabad
1. The Cochin W2E (Waste To Energy) Project is the first plant in India, where unsorted waste is gasified at high temperatures and controlled pressures in a patented process using state-of-the–art equipment, to produce energy that is used for power generation. Details of the complete project can be accessed atwww.cochinwaste2energy.com.
2. Ecosecurities India and Emergent Ventures India - are two reputed agencies who provide CDM solutions and can be of help to you .
Laxmi Prasad Pant, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Very interesting discussion is going on here. Cities in South Asia have been chaotic and stinky in terms of solid waste management and sewage disposal. In my experience almost all solid wastes go to land-fill, including biodegradable and recyclable. However, there are junk yard operators (Kawadiwalas) and rag pickers (Khate) who have been instrumental as recyclers, but their social dignity is seriously questioned just because they handle wastes. Moreover, there are initiatives for composting organic wastes, but such initiatives are not institutionalized sufficiently.
How can we mobilize traditional waste handlers and transform the conventional ways of solid waste management that excessively focuses on land-filling? There is an emerging concept called 'Payment of Environmental Services (PES)' that is being promoted in forestry and biodiversity conservation. Can we use this concept for solid waste management? Can we term this as 'Payment for Solid Waste Management Services'? This way Kawadiwalas and Khate would get some payments to enhance their livelihoods in urban slums?
This is one area that bothers me when I think about urban poverty vis-a-vis solid wastes? Any thoughts/resources in this field of study would be highly appreciated because I am working in this area.
Abhishek Mendiratta, Jupiter Knowledge Management and Innovative Concepts Private Limited (JKMIC), New Delhi
In developing countries, due to rapid population growth and urbanization without concurrent development of wastewater treatment infrastructure, CH4 and N2O emissions from wastewater are generally higher than in developed countries. Decentralized ‘natural’ treatment processes and septic tanks in developing countries may result in relatively large emissions of CH4 and N2O.
Controlled landfill (with or without gas recovery and utilization) controls and reduces green house gas (GHG) emissions like CH4 and N2O but may have negative impacts on water quality in the case of improperly managed sites. This also holds for aerobic biological treatment (composting) and anaerobic biological treatment (anaerobic digestion). Recycling, reuse and waste minimization can be negative for waste scavenging from open dump sites, with water pollution as a potential consequence. When efficiently applied, wastewater transport and treatment technologies reduce or eliminate GHG generation and emissions.
In addition, wastewater management promotes water conservation by preventing pollution from untreated discharges to surface water, groundwater, soils, and coastal zones, thus reducing the volume of pollutants, and requiring a smaller volume of water to be treated. Treated wastewater can either be reused or discharged. Reuse is the most desirable option for agricultural and horticultural irrigation, fish aquaculture, artificial recharge of aquifers, or industrial applications. For landfill, the largest GHG emission source from the waste sector, CH4 emissions continue several decades after waste disposal.
CH4 is also emitted during wastewater transport, sewage treatment processes, and leakage from anaerobic digestion of waste or wastewater sludge. The major sources of N2O are human sewage and wastewater treatment. Future reductions in emissions from the waste sector will partially depend on the post-2012 availability of Kyoto mechanisms such as the Clean Development mechanism (CDM).
Ramesh K. Jalan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi
I have been working in the area of municipal solid waste (MSW) since 1991, when I commenced my research in this field at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Since then the sector has grown and many new players and technologies have been introduced. However, technologies that are appropriate and tailor-made for Indian MSW need to be introduced on a large and replicable scale in order to take advantage of economies of scale.
In late 1990s and early 2000, there were some sporadic attempts to develop waste to energy technologies based on the process developed at Deonar, Mumbai with funding from the Technology, Information, Forecasting and Assessment Cell (TIFAC), Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India in Vijaywada, Guntur, and Hyderabad. Two of these three plants— one in Vijayawada and other one in Hyderabad are producing energy from waste. The Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) generated at Guntur is feeding the plant at Vijayawada.
Based on similar concepts, plants have come up at Jaipur and Chandigarh in 2007-08 that are producing RDF to be fed into the kilns of nearby cement plants. The maximum capacity of any of these plants is less than 500 tons per day and not much attempts have been made by any of these entrepreneurs to scale up this technology to produce energy from waste which could have been done by the large business houses of the Birlas in Jaipur and the JP group in Chandigarh. However, they chose to produce RDF only, probably considering its synergy with use in cement kilns.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) along with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Limited is also keen to demonstrate the waste to energy technology mentioned above and after extensive international competitive bidding awarded two projects, one to generate 16 MW of power from about 2000 tons per day of MSW and another one for 10 MW of power from about 1300 tons per day. The first project is awarded to the PR Jindal Group and the second to GMR led Delhi International Airport Limited who is implementing the modernization project of the Delhi Airport. Both these projects are registered with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for Certified Emission Reductions for ten years from the date of commercial production.
Another waste to energy project has been bid out for Guwahati in Assam (6MW) that is not yet registered. Two more RDF plants are also under implementation for Ajmer and Bikaner in Rajasthan.
In India, there are many agencies helping out potential projects for registering under CDM like IL&FS, Ecosmart, Ernst & Young, ICF International, Emergent Ventures etc.
Anil Arora, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi
I have gone through the message with interest. UNDP/ GEF has completed a waste-to-energy project, in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) which was concluded about three years back. Sixteen demonstration projects were put up on waste-to-energy through biomethanation processes in different parts of the country, using different technologies (no technology was repeated if more than one demo models were put up on a particular sector). Most of such projects qualify for CDM benefits. I am giving below the details of the six relevant projects which you will find useful.
VEGETABLE MARKET YARD WASTE | ||||
| Project/ Sector | Total Project Cost & Contributions | Current Status | |
1. | Vegetable Market Waste Treatment Plant at Market Committee, Jalandhar, Punjab
| ---
| Capacity: 15 TPD Dropped due to delay in finalization of award of contract. According to MNES, this has been replaced by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) plant in Mumbai, which produces 5 TPD of municipal solid waste. | |
2. | Mixed Solid Waste Treatment Plant at Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Organisation: Municipal Authority
Supporting technology institution: CLRI, Chennai
| Project Cost :Rs 303.45 lakh NBB Share :Rs 151.725 lakh UNDP Share : Rs 75.86 lakh Beneficiary Share: Rs 75.862 lakh.
Revenue generated from biogas is about Rs 14 lakh/ yr
Estimated 5,165 tCO2 reduction benefits annually | Commissioned in February 2004. Capacity: 20 TPD of mixed waste (16 vegetable market and 4 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste). Gas production: 1615 m3/day and 5 tonnes of organic manure. Biogas is used in 145 kW imported biogas engine and the electricity generated is sold to the state grid.
Technology/process: modified UASB. Turn-key contract provided to M/s. Mailhem Engineers Pvt. Ltd. (Pune). Gas engine supplied by M/s. Cogen (India), licensee of M/s Jenbacher (Austria) | |
3. | Vegetable Market Waste Treatment Plant at CMDA, Chennai
Organisation: Municipal Authority
Supporting technology institution: CLRI, Chennai
| Project Cost :Rs 325.00 lakh + USD 320000 NBB Share : Rs 250.53 lakh UNDP Share : Rs 13.47 lakh + USD 240000 | ||
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