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The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) is promoting Waste-to-Energy projects. MNES is implementing several demonstration projects in the area of high rate biomethanation processes. The main objective of these projects is to demonstrate various technologies for the conversion of different types of wastes into energy, which can eventually lead to generation of electrical power. The “Waste to Energy Conversion Plant” at Haebowal, Ludhiana, is one such which utilizes cattle waste/manure for the generation of 1 MW of electricity, and highly nutrient rich organic fertilizer. This project has been set up as a demonstration sub project by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES). The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is the implementing agency and owns the facility. This plant is spread in area of 2.5 acres and has more than 500 dairies in Haebowal complex, producing about 2500 tons of manure every day. The surplus energy after meeting the in-house power requirement is being fed to the State Electricity Grid. Besides electrical energy, the plant also produces about 50 tons of organic manure every day.
This plant was commissioned in December, 2004. The total cost on the project was Rs.13 crore. Fifty per cent of it has been borne by PEDA and the rest by the National Bio Energy Board (NBB), MNES, Delhi. It is expected to be economically viable at the tariff fixed by State Electricity Board and the revenue to be generated from manure disposal.
In this plant fresh cow manure is blended in a collection tank to provide a waste of uniform characteristics and a waste feed with a solid concentration not exceeding 10 per cent.
The main advantages of BIMA digesters is its mixing system. It does not requires mechanical moving parts.
The biogas, which is produced as a result of stabilization of the waste, automatically leaves the BIMA digester to the gas holder. In place of a conventional gas holder which is prone to corrosion, a dry type gas holder made of polyester and suspended in a concrete silo, has been installed in the plant.
The major benefits achieved through this plant include reduction in emission of green house gases. The Waste – to – Energy conversion plant has substantially brought down the global warming effect. The plant provides jobs to about 100 persons. They collect the cattle waste. The plant has begun to generate electricity recently. IIT Roorkee does the performance evaluation of the plant.
1 MW Power Project based on Cattle Manure at Haebowal Dairy Complex, Ludhiana, Punjab
*Information Officer, PIB, Delhi
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