Hubballi waste-to-energy plant to convert dry waste into green charcoal by January 2027

The first waste-to-energy project in Karnataka, located in Hubballi, has successfully completed its trial run and is expected to be fully commissioned by January 2027, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. The plant converts solid dry waste into torrefied charcoal, known as green charcoal, and is the second such project in India after Varanasi.

Joshi, who now holds the New and Renewable Energy portfolio, said the project is being implemented by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVNL), a subsidiary of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), at a cost of ₹157 crore. The plant is located on eight acres of land provided by the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation on the outskirts of Hubballi at Gabbur.

Although the project was sanctioned in 2020, delays in land transfer and government clearances pushed the start of construction to 2024. The trial run processed 541 tonnes of dry waste over 72 hours, producing 211 tonnes of green charcoal, achieving a conversion rate of about 30 to 35 percent.

Once operational, the plant will process 200 tonnes of dry waste per day. The green charcoal produced will be used as a raw material along with coal at NTPC's thermal power plant in Kudagi, Vijayapura district. The plant will also help address solid waste management issues in the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad, which generate 500 to 600 tonnes of solid waste daily, of which around 60 percent is dry waste.

Joshi noted that the plant will reduce the need for landfill sites, save the municipal corporation from maintenance expenses, and create employment for over 200 people. NVVNL will spend over ₹11 crore annually on maintenance. The plant initially requires electricity to operate, but gases generated during the waste-burning process will eventually help run the unit, reducing power consumption.

The torrefaction technology used involves burning dry waste at temperatures between 200°C and 320°C in an oxygen-depleted environment. Inert materials like construction debris, amounting to about 20 percent of the waste, are separated before the remaining waste is converted into charcoal.

During his visit, Joshi was accompanied by Hubballi-Dharwad Mayor Jyoti Patil, Deputy Mayor Santosh Chauhan, Municipal Commissioner Rudresh Ghali, and NVVNL Assistant General Manager Binay Mallik.