NTPC Implements Technology Converting Municipal Solid Waste and Agro Residue to Energy

NTPC Ltd has announced that it has successfully implemented a technology to convert Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into high Gross calorific value (GCV) fuel that can be co-fired in conventional boilers at its Dadri Plant in Delhi NCR. In doing so, NTPC has achieved a rare feat of being among the global pioneers to convert waste to energy.

The new technology has been installed at NTPC Dadri Power plant where solid waste is being treated to produce coal. Presently, on a daily basis, 20 tonnes of solid waste is converted to produce 10 tonnes of coal pellets. The breakthrough in the technology is expected to address the issue of air pollution, green-house gas emissions, waste management and renewable energy generation in a cost effective and environment friendly way.

The heart of the plant is a reactor using unique indigenously developed technology which can process the carbonaceous component of municipal solid waste into charcoal. The reactor can also be used for ‘torrefaction’ of biomass such as crop straws, tree leafs, forest residue into charcoal. Charcoal will substitute the fossil fuel being used in various applications and will be effective in reducing green-house gas emissions. This step, in future is expected to reduce the menace of MSW and will assure a clean and better environment for all.

Further, in the process of transforming solid waste to power, NTPC is collaborating with municipalities of East Delhi Municipal Corporation along with Kawas, Varanasi, Indore and Mohali. The municipal solid waste will be segregated and processed to utilise combustion fraction for conversion to coal or for power generation, biodegradable fraction for production of methane gas for use as bio CNG, and the recycled residue shall be used for construction purpose after required processing.

Moreover, in its endeavour towards a more sustainable power generation, NTPC is in the process of purchasing around 20,000 tonnes of agriculture residue per day to make pellets and mix it with natural coal for co-firing.

NTPC is presently using 70 to 80 tonnes per day of crop residue-based pellets with coal in its thermal power plant at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The project was started in 2017 to reduce air pollution and generate renewable energy by avoiding stubble burning which was causing huge pollution in Delhi and NCR.

The company has envisaged consumption of 1 million tonnes of agro pellets in 2020 for its power plants. 

NTPC has 24 coal-fired thermal power plants and nine more coal-fired power plants under joint ventures or of subsidiaries.