Chennai Metrowater will soon earn carbon credits for its efforts in reducing carbon dioxide emission in four of its sewage treatment plants.
The process of obtaining carbon credit has reached the final stage with the consultant set to register the project with the United Nations body.
According to officials of Chennai Metrowater, SGS India, the consultant has prepared an assessment certificate after validating the level of greenhouse gases emission and the efforts of generating electricity from sewage.
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About 32 mega watts or 32,000 units of electricity is generated from a total of 264 million litres of sewage received in a day in the STPs. This meets the power requirement of the facilities. Nearly 61,200 tonnes of greenhouse gases is estimated to be reduced per annum through the initiative.
The project has been approved by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The consultant would register with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change shortly by paying Rs.4.5 lakh to obtain emission reduction certificate. This would help earning carbon credits under the ‘Clean Development Mechanism'. The water agency has saved electricity worth nearly Rs.23 crore since August 2005. It will generate a revenue of Rs.4.40 crore per year by trading its credit in international market, said a senior official of Metrowater. The water agency expects to receive the incentive within six months.
“We will implement the eco-friendly project in four of the remaining five plants in a phased manner. A comprehensive package has been provided to install equipment to generate electricity in the upcoming STPs in Nesapakkam with a capacity to treat 54 mld and Perungudi (60 mld),” the official said.
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While the construction of the plant in Perungudi would be finished next month, the upcoming STP at Nesapakkam would be completed by February next.