The biodegradable waste of Chennai could soon be generated into power and manure with the launch of the pilot biomethanation plant in Pulianthope using Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) technology, in the next 45 days.
The pilot plant, which was inspected by Barc scientists and Chennai Corporation officials, will have the capacity to convert two metric tonnes of biodegradable waste into 40 kv of power besides generate manure.
Speaking to Express, BARC scientist S P Kale, the brain behind the Nisarg Runa technology that is likely to be replicated in other parts of the country and the State, said that the main aim is to ensure that biodegradable waste from the kitchen should be processed and returned to nature so that the next generation could enjoy the same natural richness enjoyed today.
He said the plant would use food generated from hotels and bio-degradable waste across the city. “It will be converted into a homogenised slurry before being fed into a pre-digester where it will undergo partial digestion by various organic acids,” he said.
“Then it will pass through the main digester from where 80 to 100 cubic metres of biogas will be produced. The slurry will be filtered and used as manure,” he said. It will also generate 160 to 170 kg of manure.
The initial investment is around Rs 40 lakh and it is likely that the project will be replicated in other parts of the city, he said.
BARC has set up 160 plants in various parts of the country. “Kerala and Maharashtra have 130 such plants,” said Kale.
The project is executed by Hubert Eurocare Systems (an associate of Hubert Stavoren B V Holland).
J Jenish Jeyakumar, senior engineer of the firm said that the company’s proposal of nine more projects in the city is under consideration by the Chennai Corporation.