New plant will convert a third of New Delhi’s waste to energy

The Indian government and Sheffield Hallam University are working together to produce a new waste to energy plant for New Delhi.

Once completed, the £68 million plant will process a third of New Delhi’s waste. The capital of India, New Delhi has a population of around 21.75 million people.

Sheffield Hallam University carried out the feasibility study for the project, identifying sites which could be used for the new plant, and the technology required.

The project is part of the Indian government’s £9 billion ‘Clean India Mission’, which aims to clean the roads, streets and infrastructure of the country. With pollution an ever growing problem in India, the initiative seeks to ‘clean up’ the country’s 75 biggest cities in the next five years.

Dr Abhishek Asthana, director of Hallam Energy who led the project alongside his colleague Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, said: "New Delhi is in crisis without serious intervention and a new waste to energy plant. At current rates, New Delhi will be producing more than 14,000 tonnes of waste per day by 2024 and would require a landfill site equal to 7% of the city's total land, which is completely unfeasible.

"Currently, there are three landfill sites in Delhi with a height limit for the garbage set at around 15 meters - all three are already past 40 metres so this new plant is vital for the future of the city and its people.

"We will be involved in the project until completion, which is due to be in around 2020-2021. This is a major project for India and for us."

The plant will process 4000 tons of waste per day into 32 megawatts of power.