India’s Largest Power Generator Plans 100 Waste-To-Energy Projects
NTPC Limited, India’s largest power generation company, has invited interested domestic and international developers to construct 100 waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities in the country under the Swatch Bharat Mission of the government of India.
The selected developers would be provided with land, a supply of waste, and support in getting regulatory clearances for speedy implementation. Also, power purchase agreements will be arranged for the developers. The last part is very crucial for a project developer as a power purchase agreement backed by NTPC will boost confidence among funding agencies.
NTPC is seeking developers having a track record of successful commercial operations of WTE with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day or more with at least two years of successful operations. The shortlisted companies would be empaneled for setting up the facilities for which a separate tender will be floated.
NTPC has already commenced work earlier this year on Badarpur WTE plant having capacity to process 400 tonnes of garbage from South Delhi Municipal Corporation. The plant entails an investment of Rs 300 crore ($47 million).
Recently, two UK-based companies GJ Nature Care & Energy (GJNCE) and GJ Eco Power (GJEP), specialized in converting waste to energy, proposed to invest Rs 1500 crore ($233 million) in several south Indian cities to set up WTE plants in the next five years with advanced technology.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has assessed the potential from waste generated from cities and towns in India to be approximately 500 megawatts of power, which can be further increased to 1075 megawatts by 2031 and 2780 megawatts by 2050.
Over the last few months, waste-to-energy projects have gained special attention from the central government. States have been directed to procure all electricity generated from waste-to-energy projects without fail. This power procurement will also be counted towards the Renewable Purchase Obligation of power utilities.
As of the 31st of July 2017, India had an operational waste-to-energy capacity of 287 megawatts, most of it in the off-grid segment. Clearly, a lot of effort is needed on the part of state governments, power utilities, and municipalities.
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