Swiss-based Satarem to convert Bangalore's solid waste into energy

Bangalore: A solid waste management plant with a capacity to handle about 1,000 tonnes of waste daily will come up in the city under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The plant that could ease solid waste disposal issues that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been facing will be commissioned by Swiss-based Satarem AG in two years’ time. In the first phase, facility will be developed for waste receipt, its segregation, compost-making and landfill. In the second phase, facility will be installed to convert waste to energy, and it will have an installed capacity of 14.5 MW, a release said. Mayor B.S. Satyanarayana and Deputy Mayor Indira unveiled the foundation plaque for the project near Nelamangala on Monday. The Rs. 300-crore plant is funded by the overseas venture capitalists and banks as well as Indian banks. About 4,000 tonnes of solid waste is being generated in Bangalore daily and currently two landfills at Mandur and Terrafirma in Doddaballapur are used for waste disposal. “The plant adopts multipurpose co-combustion technology wherein biodegradable waste will be converted into compost. Bottom ash will be used for making construction materials like paver blocks and cement bricks,” Venkatesh Sivaraman, Executive Director, Satarem India, told presspersons during the launch. This European technology is used in over 450 waste-to-energy plants worldwide, he said, adding that the responsibility of transporting waste rests with the BBMP. According to Jerome Filer, founder of Satarem, this is the first project of its kind in India, which is expected to become a model for many more such projects. The proposed plant is the first to be completely roof covered, and is odour-free, flies-free and eliminates the bird menace and consequent health hazards, the release added. The technology also reduces the requirement of land for landfill and is ecologically and economically viable. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/swiss-company-to-convert-citys-solid-waste-into-energy/article5724364.ece