CHENNAI: The Rs 5.50-crore bio-methanation plant is all set to generate power within a week from the solid waste of Koyambedu market, thus reducing the greenhouse gases coming from organic waste at the sprawling perishables market, according to sources in the Market Management Committee.
The plant, which hit a roadblock in 2008, due to non-availability of spares for the machine that was to convert the waste into electricity, will go on stream after the spares were imported from Germany recently.
“Hyderabad-based Ramky Group, which took over the plant after signing an agreement with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority under a Public Private Partnership mode, will produce power once the grid is synchronised with that of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, which will take about a week’s time,” said MMC sources.
The company has spent more than Rs 1 crore for importing the spare parts from Germany and the plant is expected to produce nearly 3,000 units of power per day, the sources added.
“Currently, we are awaiting a nod from the TTNEB before generating power,” sources told City Express.
Earlier, the plant was operational but it could not generate electricity. “The plant was operational only for namesake. Gas was produced but it was burnt without any use,” sources at Ramky Enviro Engineers said.
Inaugurated by the AIADMK regime in 2005, the bio-methanation plant was unable to produce power from solid waste for nearly two years due to a technical snag in the turbine. Till 2008, not even 900 units of power could be generated, sources said. Adding further to its miseries, a contractor engaged to run the plant refused to renew his term as he thought that the project was not viable. It was in 2009 that the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority signed a deal with the Ramky Group to revive the project under a new 12-year agreement.
Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited would remove 150 to 180 metric tonnes of garbage per day from around 3, 500 shops in the market and generate at least 2,500 units of power per day. The biogas generated would be used as fuel in gas engines and the excess power generated would be exported to the TNEB grid.
As per the agreement, Ramky was to sell the power at Rs 3.75 per unit. But sources said they would now be selling the power at the existing market tariff, which was about Rs 6 per unit, and it was being worked out.
TNEB chairperson CP Singh told City Express that the CMDA on May 5 had sought the grid connection and synchronisation of the plant. “Everything is ready now. Ramky has to produce an electrical safety certificate issued by the Chief Electrical Inspector to government,” he added.