The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Thermal Power Corporation on July 10 for the establishment of its first 'waste-to-charcoal plant' at the Bandhwari landfill, said media reports including Hindustan Times.
Once fully operational, this plant will convert 600 metric tons of waste generated from the city into 200 metric tons of coal daily. The initiative follows the cancellation of Ecogreen Energy’s contract for solid waste management, which had left MCG in a bind over new waste processing tenders.
To recall, in mid of the last month, the Haryana state government has declared a municipal solid waste exigency in Gurugram due to alarming levels of untreated waste adversely affecting the environment and public health. Under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the state government has launched the Solid Waste Environment Exigency Program (SWEEP).
The Urban Waste to Charcoal Plant will utilize torrefaction technology, making the resultant flue gases easier to clean and the final product, torrefied charcoal, hydrophobic with a high heating value similar to conventional coal.
The Plant will be established by NTPC and is expected to be completed within 18 months. In a recent test, 50 metric tons of waste has successfully converted into green charcoal.
Torrefaction technology is a thermal treatment process that converts biomass (such as wood, agricultural residues, or organic waste) into a more energy-dense and stable material. To give the overview of process involved in Torrefaction technology, biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions) at temperatures typically between 200°C and 300°C. The process removes moisture and volatile compounds from the biomass, leaving behind a solid product known as "torrefied biomass" or "biochar."
Torrefied biomass has a higher energy content per unit weight compared to raw biomass. It can be used as a renewable fuel for heat and power generation.
The torrefaction process reduces the hygroscopic nature of biomass, making it less prone to absorbing moisture during storage and transportation.
Torrefied biomass produces fewer emissions (such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds) during combustion. It can replace coal in existing power plants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, torrefied biomass can be compressed into pellets or briquettes for residential heating or industrial use.
In one of its green applications, Biochar resulting from torrefaction can enhance soil quality and carbon sequestration.
In summary, torrefaction improves biomass properties, making it a valuable resource for sustainable energy and waste management.
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