Delhi sewage treatment plant uses biogas to generate electricity

Biogas from the Delhi Jal Board s (DJB) sewage treatment plant in Yamuna Vihar is now being used to generate power, which will bring the water utility s electricity bill down by Rs. 1.5 crore annually. According to officials, current power generation of the plant is 1,500 kilowatt hour (kWh) per day and the electricity generation was expected to increase soon. “Power generation will increase to 5000 kilowatt hour (kWh) per day by end of this year. Thus the plant will produce 18 lakh units of electricity every year and will save Rs 1.5 crore annually to DJB on account of power cost”, senior officer said.

This is DJB s fourth biogas based power generation plant, other such Plants are located in Okhla, Kondli and Rithala. The Plant produces electricity from the biogas produced in the Sewage Treatment Plant. “The Plant will also help in reducing air pollution by capturing and burning Methane produced at Sewage Treatment Plant for power production”, the officer said. Apart from producing clean energy, biogas plants also reduce dependence on power supply from DISCOMS.

Laying stress on clean energy, Kapil Mishra, Minister for Water and Chairperson, DJB said, “it has been a conscious choice to be self reliant in the production of a non polluting and renewable source of energy. Biogas plants are easy to set up and require little capital investment on a small scale basis. Production of biogas will lead to improvement in the environment”.

Besides this, DJB is also making use of other new and renewable sources. Official claims that DJB produces 54,000 kilowatt hour (kWh) of clean energy every day thus saving crores of rupees on energy cost and is also making valuable contribution towards protection of environment.

“We have a solar power generation Plant at Jhandewalan and DJB also has also commissioned the first ever Hydroelectric Plant in Delhi which is located at Chilla STP”, the officer explained. DJB has also invited bids for installing 20 MGD capacity solar power generation units, at its water treatment plant across city. A feasibility study on setting up more hydroelectric Plants has also been commissioned.

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