India: Ion Exchange Launches Waste to Energy Plant in Hyderabad

Leading water and environment management firm, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd, recently commissioned “India’s first Andicos waste to energy system” for a project in Hyderabad, Telengana. Andicos is a joint initiative of Ion Exchange with Belgium-based VITO and Europem. The waste to energy plant was set up at Akshaya Patra in Hyderabad to treat wastewater and organic waste from its new and fully automated kitchen.

The Andicos plant provides an integrated waste-to-energy solution through the bio-methanation process. While the treated raw sewage is transformed into purified water that can be reused, the sludge generated in the process is then combined with organic kitchen waste generated in homes and communities by a bio-methanation process. The Andicos system thus recovers purified water, renewable energy and organic fertiliser from liquid and solid waste.

The Andicos plant set up at Hyderabad has a capacity to treat approximately 1,000 kgs of organic kitchen waste and 2-6 m3 of sewage sludge on a daily basis and will generate approximately 20 KW/hour of electrical power along with 1.35 tonnes of organic fertiliser per day.

The ANDICOS plant can be built modularly for centralised and decentralised uses and can also be customised for large municipal installations, the company said. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ajay Popat, President, Ion Exchange said, “There is a strong need to consider and implement solutions that promote sustainability. Water shortage has been a major concern and this is only followed by the problem of untreated waste. The new Andicos plant is unique as it integrates technology to combine solid organic waste and waste water to generate power, water and fertiliser that can be used thereafter. Simultaneously, the plant also can be integrated to treat sewage making it a complete and all round solution. We are certain that this new technology will add value and promote sustainable development across the country.”

“For over 50 years, Ion Exchange has been innovating water and waste treatment solutions. Our solutions and systems allow us to provide our clients with customised need based systems that are versatile and performance oriented,” added Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, Ion Exchange.