Smarter are Turning Greener – Organic Recycling Systems Pvt Ltd

Organic Recycling Systems Pvt Ltd (ORS) was incorporated in 2008 as a strategic initiative between a team of technocrats (sector experts) and a group of investors (Intellivate Capital) to promote ‘Greenfield’ projects in the field of Integrated Urban Waste Management (IUWM).

It aimed to become a technology leader in Urban Waste Management Sector (UWMS) over five years by giving viable solutions to the city administration, for mitigating environmental challenges poised by perpetuating waste disposal issues.

In significant ways, this project has turned out to provide integrated technological solutions to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for effective processing and disposal of Solid Waste in conformance with Solid Waste Management (SWM) Handling Rules, 2004 with a focus on minimising disposal burden to landfill sites.

Challenges

• Implementation of technologies without customisation in consideration of local environmental parameters.
• Existing waste collection practices did not focus on source segregation, making it difficult for processing of waste.
• Lack of confidence among the Financial Institutions, due to past failure in sector makes it difficult to raise project finance.
• Cost of finance is high for such projects as Financial Institutions consider such project to be of high-risk.
• Delays in obtaining clearances and approvals from various administrative stakeholders.
• Delay in PPA with Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) for mutually acceptable tariffs.
• ROW issues delay the grid connectivity beyond implementation time frame.
• Tariff from regulatory agency for sale of electricity for 20 years, directing DISCOMs to purchase power from the project.

Solution

Development of Indigenous Proprietary Technology DRYADTM, is based on Theremophilic Biomethanation Process to suit the local environmental conditions after pilot validations. DRYAD™ operates at 550C (temp suitable for operation in Indian cities). It has a high loading rate that requires less digester volume and in turn requires less area for operation as compared to landfills.

This project led to successful Implementation of 400 TPD, 3mw (Grid Connected) Waste-to-Energy Project, based on unsegregated MSW at Sholapur, Maharashtra.

Sholapur Project

• City with population of 1.1 million
• Concession Agreement for 29 years with local authorities
• Power Generation capacity – 4MW
• Organic Compost – 80 TPD
• PPA signed with MSEDCL for a period of 20 years at a levelised tariff of R4.88 per unit (expected R6.00/unit)
• Current Status: Grid Connected

Outcomes

• Odorless operation as it’s a closed process, which results in high public acceptance.
• Global contracts for setting up waste processing facilities based on DRYADTM.
• Development of product lines for decentralised solutions (1-5 TPD systems) in urban and rural areas.
• Biogas generation is in the range of 117nm3 to 124 nm3/ton of waste that factors for higher electricity generation.
• Under this system, the captive consumption of electricity is low as compared to thermal technologies.
• Secured 1,000 TPD waste management project at Bangalore, Karnataka.
• Secured 750 TPD waste management project at Pune, Maharashtra.