The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba, has commissioned two biogas plants for solid waste management on its campus. The first plant treats organic waste from the VSSC canteens and the larger second plant was installed at the housing colony, VSSC officials said.
The total cost of the project is Rs 20 lakh. With four canteens serving more than 5,000 employees, the space agency generates a large volume of food waste. The new waste treatment plant can produce biogas equivalent to 17 kg of LPG a day.
VSSC chief controller K M Nair inaugurated the plant. VSSC Director P S Veeraraghavan inaugurated a larger waste treatment plant at the housing colony. As many as 550 families living in the housing colony produce about 650 kg organic waste daily. The centre was finding it difficult to dispose of this accumulated waste.
The new plant is more efficient as it pulverises the waste, accelerating biodegradation. The biogas produced from the plant also burns 14 street lights in the colony, VSSC officials said. The plant was installed with the technical assistance of Agro Machinery Consultancy, Kalamasseri.