NTPC to setup 100 waste-to-energy pollution-free plants under Swachh Bharat mission

NEW DELHI: NTPC Ltd., India’s largest power utility, aims to be the world’s largest and best power major will set up 100 waste-to-energy pollution-free plants under Govt. of India Swachh Bharat mission.

“NTPC has invited national and international players to set up 100 waste-to-energy pollution-free plants across the country under the Swachh Bharat mission. This bodes well for a clean and green India.”, Govt. said.

“Earlier this week, the company invited expression of interest from domestic as well as global players for setting up such plants based on proven technologies on turnkey basis, according to a public notice.

This year in April, NTPC said that it will be setting up two sewage treatment plants at its Korba Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh.

NTPC has started work on a waste-to-energy project in Badarpur early this year. The Rs 300-crore plant would have the capacity to process 400 tonne of garbage per day from South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The prospective developers should have successful commercial operation anywhere in the world in capacity of 300 tonnes per day and above, with at least two years of successful operation, the notice said.

Firms with annual turnover of at least Rs 190 crore would be eligible for evincing interest for these plants. The shortlisted firms would be empanelled for setting up the plants through a tender process separately.

According to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy estimates, the solid waste generated from cities/towns in India has a potential to generate power of approximately 500 MW, which can be enhanced to 1,075 MW by 2031 and further to 2,780 MW by 2050.

NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA) is committed to developing new technologies for better utilisation and management of waste materials like effluent from power plant and municipal solid waste. NETRA is engaged in key activities of research and technology development, NTPC earlier said. The plant waste liquids are collected and disposed off by the stations.

In the changing environment it is being emphasized that plants should adopt zero liquid discharge. Also availability of water and its rising cost are going to be a major constraint for the power plants. Considering this NETRA is developing cost effective waste water recycling technologies by installing pilot demo plants at stations.