Biogas plant moves forward in Chennai

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Hyderabad, India-based Ramky Enviro Engineers are reviving a bio-methanation plant at a wholesale vegetable market in Koyambedu, according to the Times of India today.

Koyambedu is a locality in southern India's Chennai, known for having one of Asia's largest perishable goods markets.

The plant, implemented by the previous regional political party in 2005, was intended to reduce greenhouse gases coming from organic waste at a yard near Koyambedu, before the waste was taken to a dumping ground. Biomethanation uses biogas produced from processing solid waste to generate electricity (see PG&E looking for more biomethane).

The government of India’s Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources paid for 75 percent of the Rs 5 crore ($1.2 million) project, while the rest came from the development authority.

The plant previously ran into problems including a lack of funds to operate it as well as technology hurdles with producing power from the solid waste. The previous contractor running the plant refused to renew its term, citing non-viability of the project.

Ramky Enviro Engineers, a subsidiary of the Ramky Group, specializes in recycling and waste management (see Ramky Group’s subsidiary plans IPO in 2009). It is expected to generate the technology, funds, and labor to make it functional. It’s also expected to collect 170 tons of waste generated from 3,200 shops in the market for 12 years.

The plant is to generate at least 2,500 units of power per day, compared to the original capacity of 5,000 units per day, which is to be sold to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board under a profit sharing arrangement. However, proper collection and segregation could lead to increased power generation.

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