NDMC to produce enough power for itself by 2016

Plans to set up waste-to-energy plant in RK Puram

The New Delhi Municipal Council is set to be energy neutral by March 2016.

The council is likely to set up a waste-to-energy plant in RK Puram which will generate enough electricity for the council to sustain itself. It will not have to rely on an external source for electricity. 

This would be the first-of-its-kind plant to be set up by a civic body in the country, NDMC officials said.

“The council will be energy neutral once this plant is set up and it will be able to meet all energy demands,” said Jalaj Shrivastava, Chairperson, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

“From 170 tonnes of waste, around 100 tonnes of waste will be recovered. This will be by eliminating metal. The waste will be melted at the rate of 4 MW per hour. So, in a day, 96 MW of energy will be produced,” added Shrivastava.

The plant would require little space compared to the existing waste-to-energy plants and can be set up in area of 2,000 sq m, according to council officials.
Initially, the council is planning to set up two such plants. If the model turns out to be successful, the council will promote it among civic agencies.

“To begin with, the first plant will be set up in RK Puram. The model can be implemented outside the NDMC area once it is successful. We have already spoken to experts who have assured that the technology can be successfully implemented,” said Shrivastava.

The Ministry of Urban Development has already checked the feasibility of the project with a team of experts visiting such a plant in Indonesia.

“The Indonesian plant has been set up by a Singaporean company. We will however invite eligible companies to carry out the project here,” said the Chairperson.

The technology implemented in the plant will be controlled pyrolysis gasification.
“It will essentially melt the waste into inert and non-toxic products for almost 100 per cent electricity benefit from the waste. Experts have said this model of plant is suitable for Indian waste also,” said Shrivastava.

The council has floated tenders for the project. The lease will be given for 25 years.
However, the council’s ambitious plan to install rooftop solar panels on residential buildings has not taken off.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is not prepared to accept the conditions on which the citizens’ solar panel project can take off, said a senior official of the council.