NTPC plans to generate power from urban waste

NOIDA: In what could make a major difference to the management of urban solid waste, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is all set to implement a waste-to-energy technology that it has co-developed with a Chennai-based orthopedic surgeon. The “torrefied coal”, made out of carbonised waste, will be used by NTPC in its power plants in Varanasi, Bhopal, Indore and Hubli for power generation, officials said.
“The idea is to carbonise solid waste in low oxygen conditions and convert the material into coal. Because there is no oxygen involved in the process, and the carbonisation is taking place with external heat – the conversion process is not toxic and the carbonised output is of usable quality for power plants,” said Amit Kulsreshtha, NTPC’s general manager-new initiatives.
“Also the product is cost-competitive and at times cheaper than the market price of regular coal that we buy to fuel our plants. The idea was germinated by Chennai-based inventor Dr SK Sivakumar, which we then co-developed,” he said. The project is likely to take off in the next 7-8 months, officials said.