India’s First Waste-to-Hydrogen Plant by TGBL in Pune

India’s First Waste-to-Hydrogen Plant by TGBL in Pune

Here’s an article posted in Business Standard.

According to the article,

• TheGreenBillions Ltd (TGBL) will set up India’s first solid waste-to-hydrogen plant in Pune at a cost of over Rs 430 crore.
• The plant will treat 350 tonnes of solid garbage every day by next year and produce 10 tonnes of hydrogen daily from waste.
• The PMC will pay Rs 347 per tonne to TGBL as tipping fee to treat the waste.
• The plant will be set up at Hadapsar Industrial Estate in Pune and will be operational for 30 years.

The process of converting waste into hydrogen involves several stages, each contributing to the efficient utilization of resources and minimizing environmental impact.

1. Waste Collection and Sorting:
   • The process begins with the collection of organic waste from various sources such as households, restaurants, and industries.
   • The collected waste is sorted to remove non-biodegradable materials like plastics, metals, and glass, ensuring that only organic waste is used for the hydrogen production process.
2. Anaerobic Digestion:
   • The organic waste undergoes anaerobic digestion, a biological process where microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.
   • During this stage, organic matter is converted into biogas, primarily composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
   • Biogas production is optimized through controlling factors such as temperature, pH, and retention time.
3. Biogas Purification:
   • The biogas produced from anaerobic digestion undergoes purification to remove impurities and contaminants, ensuring the quality and efficiency of the subsequent processes.
   • Purification techniques may include processes like desulfurization to remove sulfur compounds, moisture removal, and removal of other trace gases.
4. Steam Reforming:
   • The purified biogas, primarily consisting of methane, is then subjected to steam reforming, a thermochemical process that produces hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) through the reaction with steam (H2O).
   • The steam reforming reaction is typically carried out at high temperatures (700°C – 1100°C) and in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co).
5. Water-Gas Shift Reaction:
   • The produced carbon monoxide from steam reforming is further reacted with steam in the water-gas shift reaction.
   • This reaction converts carbon monoxide into additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide: CO + H2O -> CO2 + H2
6. Hydrogen Separation:
   • The resulting gas mixture containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and residual gases undergoes separation to isolate hydrogen from other gases.
   • Various separation techniques such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or membrane separation may be employed to obtain high-purity hydrogen.
7. Hydrogen Storage and Distribution:
   • The purified hydrogen is stored and distributed for various applications, including fuel for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, industrial processes, and power generation.
   • Storage methods may include compression, liquefaction, or solid-state storage technologies, depending on the specific requirements and scale of the operation.

Specific data points:

• Capacity: The plant’s capacity for waste processing and hydrogen production.
• Efficiency: Efficiency metrics such as conversion efficiency of waste to hydrogen, energy efficiency of the process, etc.
• Emissions Reduction: Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reduction achieved through the utilization of waste-derived hydrogen compared to conventional fossil fuel-based hydrogen production methods.
• Investment: Information regarding the investment made in the project, including capital costs, funding sources, and expected return on investment.
• Output: The volume or mass of hydrogen produced per unit of waste processed.
• Timeline: Details regarding the construction, commissioning, and operation timeline of the plant.
• Collaborations: Any partnerships or collaborations with research institutions, government agencies, or other stakeholders involved in the project.

These specific data points provide a comprehensive understanding of the plant’s operations, its environmental impact, and its contribution to sustainable development goals.

Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:

1. Hydrogen Production with Plastic Waste: FusionOne Technology
   • FusionOne technology converts plastic waste into hydrogen fuel by breaking it down into chemical components1.
2. Pune’s Green Hydrogen: Waste-to-Hydrogen Project Launched
   • India’s first waste-to-hydrogen project in Pune aims to manage waste and lower emissions using green hydrogen, a partnership between Pune Municipal Corporation and The Green Billions.