375kW of biogas ‘wasted’ every month in Goa plant

A biogas surplus capable of generating 375kW of power every month is being wasted in Goa, according to a report in The Economic Times.

The waste is apparently due to government complacency, with the documentation needed to approve the export of surplus power to the state electricity department waiting to be processed.

Located on the Calangute-Saligao plateau, the garbage treatment plant has been generating electricity from biogas for the past seven months.

“The plant is generating around 873kW of power per month for its own consumption from the biogas created from biodegradable waste. Surplus power of 375kW is also being generated every month. We are waiting for [the] government’s approval to export the power to the electricity department,” Sanjit Rodrigues, managing director of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), told The Economic Times.

According to another GSIDC official, a draft power purchase agreement has been agreed with Goa’s electricity department, but the protection system is yet to be finalised.

“The plant generated 1,64,766 cubic metres of biogas in January and 1,46,980 cubic metres in February. Since there is no mechanism to export the power right now, we are flaring surplus biogas,” the unnamed official revealed.

Goa’s electricity department maintains that the delay is not from its side.

“The department didn’t receive any proposal from them (GSIDC). After reading press reports, the department contacted them and asked for their technical details. We have already referred them for a power purchase agreement. The proposal’s feasibility will have to be seen and an agreement will have to be signed and rates will have to be approved by the joint electricity regulatory commission (JERC). The cost will have to be worked out and it will have to be tendered,” the electricity department said.