Indore Takes A Leaf From Gujarat Sludge Treatment Plant, To Turn Solar

Indore Smart City Development Limited is going to set up a second solar-run sludge hygienization plant in Kabitkhedi area of Indore. The first state to do so was Ahmedabad. The dedicated solar power plant is expected to reduce power consumption by up to 50 per cent. Second city in the country after Pirana in Gujarat, Indore’s sludge hygienization plant will use high energy gamma radiation from Co-60 gamma sources to treat dry sewage sludge.

ISCDL chief executive officer Rishav Gupta has been quoted as saying, “A 180KW mega solar power plant has been planned to reduce electricity cost in the newly established sludge hygienization plant. Monthly electricity cost of the sludge treatment facility, which is borne by ISCDL is between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh. The solar power plant, installation of which has already begun on the rooftop of the sludge treatment plant in Kabitkhedi area at an estimated cost of Rs 77 lakh, will generate around 22,500 units of electricity in a month, and around Rs 1.34 lakh in monthly electricity bill could be saved. They aim to complete installation of this solar power plant and make it operational within a month or so. The agency entrusted with the contract for installation of the solar power plant will maintain the facility for the next five years. We will save around Rs 12-14 lakh through this mega solar power plant in a year and recover the amount invested for its installation in the next six years.”

ISCDL will achieve twin objectives: the solar power plant will generate electricity, and the same power plant will generate carbon credits. “We will be registering this solar power plant project under the VCS (verified carbon standard, USA) programme, and hope to generate around 1800 carbon credits annually,” added Gupta. The first sewage sludge hygienization plant in the country became operational in Pirana in March 2019. The Pirana plant has the capacity to convert 100 tonnes of dry sludge into fertilizer daily.