By Solar Times Bureau.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as planned earlier about the programming of generating renewable energy from urban and industrial wastages has commenced with their initial projects in different urban cities through out the country. The ministry is implementing seven projects in the initial stage, with the setting up of five pilot projects based on municipal solid waste/garbage. The aim behind setting up of the project is to meet the increasing requirements of energy in urban cities.
The financial assistance provided by the ministry for the implementation of the project is as Rs. 2 crores per megawatt limited to Rs. 10 crores per project for five pilot projects based on garbage set up by State Nodal Agencies, Urban Local Bodies/Municipal Corporations or entrepreneurs. On the initial stage of setting up the project, some additional assistance like customs and excise duty concessions on the import of machineries are also provided.
The projects which are commenced presently are based on biomethanation, combustion and gasification technologies followed by engines or turbines for power generation. The projects at Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad are employing combustion technology based on reciprocating grate boilers, whereas the project at Pune and Solapur are based on gasification and biomethanation technologies, respectively. These projects are being set up on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis. These are considered viable and will supply power to the State Transmission Companies at a tariff of Rs. 2.59 to 4.25 per kWh, which is comparable with the cost of conventional power.