Indore sets another example, city’s sludge hygienization plant goes solar

To reduce electricity cost in the newly established sludge hygienization plant, Indore Smart City Development (ISCD) is setting up a 180KW mega solar panel at the treatment plant to reduce power consumption by up to 50%.

A sludge hygienization plant is one which treats dry sewage sludge by high energy gamma radiation with the help of a Cobalt-60 unit. Sludge treatment is focused on reducing sludge weight to reduce transportation and disposal costs, and on reducing potential health risks.

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The solar power plant is being installed on the rooftop of the sludge treatment plant. It is expected to be operational within a month. The agency entrusted with the contract for installation of the solar power plant will maintain the facility for the next five years.

Estimate cost of the project is Rs. 77 lakh which will in-return generate approximately 22,500 units of electricity per month. The current monthly electricity cost of the treatment facility borne by ISCDL is up to Rs. 2.5 lakh which will likely fall down by Rs. 1.34 lakh, saving almost 12 lakh in a year.

Apart from this, the same power plant will generate carbon credits. Registered under the VCS (verified carbon standard, USA) programme, it hopes to generate around 1800 carbon credits annually.

The first such sewage sludge hygienization plant of the country was set up in Ahemdabad, Gujrat. The plant has the capacity to convert 100 tonnes of dry sludge into fertiliser, daily.