The bioenergy sector in India is rapidly evolving, with proactive policy measures by the government. In November 2022, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The programme is recommended to be implemented in two phases, and substantial investments have been allocated towards waste-to-energy (WtE), biomass and biogas. The first phase was approved with a budget outlay of Rs 8.58 billion. It includes Rs 6 billion for WtE to support 100 compressed biogas (CBG) plants. A total of 63 WtE projects have been supported under the programme.
The government also provided central financial assistance (CFA) for WtE projects. It includes Rs 2.5 million per 12,000 cubic metres per day with a maximum CFA of Rs 50 million for biogas generation. Meanwhile, it has sanctioned Rs 40 million per 4,800 kg per day for CBG generation from new biogas plants, and Rs 30 million per 4,800 kg per day for CBG generation from existing biogas plants, with a maximum CFA of Rs 100 million per project for both cases. Furthermore, for biogas-based power generation, the government has approved a CFA of 7.5 million per MW for new biogas plants and Rs 5 million per MW for existing biogas plant, with a maximum CFA of Rs 50 million per project for both cases. As per the MNRE, 249.74 MW of WtE and 343.62 MW of off-grid WtE capacities have been installed in the country as of June 30, 2024. The installed capacity is low compared to India’s potential due to several challenges in the segment, such as issues in the segregation and collection of municipal solid waste (MSW), maintenance of an efficient supply chain of good quality feedstock, and high capex requirements. Against this backdrop, the proper segregation of MSW at the CBG plant in Indore stands out. This article explores the success story further…
Indore’s segregation success story
The success of Indore’s municipal waste management relies on effective segregation. The city has achieved remarkable results with 95 per cent purity in segregation, despite challenges posed by diverse waste types such as coconut shells and seeds. It has implemented innovative approaches to handle its daily waste generation with a significant focus on reducing landfill dependency and maximising resource recovery through CBG technology. By upholding segregation quality and maximising by-products, Indore has enabled urban local bodies to generate revenue and close the circular economy loop.
The 20 tonnes per day (tpd) biomethanation plant in Choithram Mandi, established by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), manages waste produced by the wholesale vegetable and fruit market. The successful implementation of this plant led to the establishment of another plant with a 15 tpd capacity. These two small-scale plants paved way for the development of a large CBG plant in the city. 15 acre-plant and is built in public-private partnership mode with Ever Enviro Resource Management Private Limited as the concessionaire for a period of 20 years. It entailed an investment of Rs 1.5 billion. Using semi-dry mesophilic technology, the plant can convert 550 metric tonnes of organic solid waste per day into 17-18 tonnes of CBG and 80-100 tonnes of organic fertiliser. It generates less than 5 per cent inert material.
The entire waste collection and transportation system is managed internally by IMC, with only the processing part outsourced. The aim is to integrate public transport with waste management. At least 50 per cent of the CBG produced by the plant is purchased by IMC for Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited. Furthermore, it sells the remaining quantity in the open market while the compost is sold directly to farmers or through chemical fertliser companies.
Indore, declared the cleanest city for the seventh consecutive year, faced several challenges on its path towards becoming a zero-landfill city. The organic fibrous material with high moisture content from hammer mills was difficult to compost. Also, coconut shells were not suitable for anaerobic digestion and composting due to their high lignin content. There were also concerns among users about the gas quality produced from waste. To overcome these challenges, a screw press machine was introduced to recycle slurry from organic rejects. Furthermore, Coconut shells were shredded and used in the digester heating system for temperature control. To increase CBG uptake, mass sensitisation drives were conducted, such as trials of compressed natural gas vehicles, and implementation of a strong redressal system.
Net, net, the city’s success in handling MSW and reducing landfill waste has been possible due to the proactive work of IMC, the CBG project developers, and the active participation of the city’s residents in waste segregation.
