The Kerala government has recently announced its first Waste-To-Energy project, to be set up in Kozhikode. Expected to be operational within two years, the facility is anticipated to generate around 6 MW of power. The city of Kozhikode, with a population of approximately 6.3 lakh, produces about 300 metric tons of waste daily. Of this, nearly 205 tons are biodegradable and about 95 tons are non-biodegradable. Despite having close to 100 waste-to-energy projects nationwide, only a few are up and running due to various production and operational hurdles.
What are Waste-to-Energy Projects?
Waste-to-energy projects utilize non-recyclable dry waste to generate electricity, thereby easing the Solid Waste Management (SWM) burden. Indian solid waste is primarily made up of 55-60% biodegradable organic waste, which can be processed into organic compost or biogas. Approximately 25-30% of the waste is non-biodegradable dry waste, and around 15% includes silt, stones, and drain waste. Of the non-biodegradable dry waste, merely 2-3% – including hard plastics, metals, and electronic waste – can be recycled. The non-recyclable components, such as low-grade plastic, rags, and cloth, present significant challenges to the SWM system and also hinder the efficient recycling of other dry and wet waste. Waste-to-energy plants use these components to produce electricity by combusting the waste to generate heat, which is then converted into power.
Types of Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Biological Treatment Technologies (BTT) work in collaboration with natural biological processes and the organic rich fraction of Municipal Solid waste. These treatments employ two different processes: aerobic process or composting (in the presence of oxygen), and the anaerobic process (in the absence of oxygen).
Thermal Treatment Technologies include pyrolysis, gasification, and incineration techniques, each of which depends on the waste nature and the desired end product application. Pyrolysis involves the heating of organic material in the absence of oxygen while gasification is a high-temperature process that converts carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Incineration, on the other hand, is a quick oxidation process used to convert VOCs and other gaseous hydrocarbon pollutants into carbon dioxide and water.
Challenges Faced by Waste-to-Energy Plants
Solid waste in India has a low calorific value due to improper segregation. The waste’s calorific value significantly impacts its ability to generate power. High energy production costs and improper assessments are also considerable hurdles. State electricity boards must buy power from coal, hydroelectric, and solar power plants at a cheaper rate than what is being generated from waste. Thus, for waste-to-energy projects to be successful, the cost of power generation needs to reduce drastically.
Related Initiatives
Several initiatives have been implemented to combat waste, including SATAT Scheme National Dashboard on Elimination of Single Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management Project REPLAN Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the National Bioenergy Programme.
Possible Solutions
It is imperative that State electricity boards consider purchasing power from newer renewable energy sources like waste-to-energy, even if the price needs to be reduced. Setting up waste-to-energy projects requires the full support of the municipality, the State and the people. For this to be achieved, municipalities must ensure proper waste segregation, managing different kinds of waste separately. It is crucial to conduct field studies and learn from other projects’ experiences. Without these efforts, waste-to-energy projects may not succeed, leading to an increased burden on government bodies to manage the ever-growing waste, which can prove to be a costly mistake.