Hubballi soon to host South India’s first waste to energy plant

Karnataka’s Hubballi is poised to become a pioneer in sustainable waste management with the establishment of South India’s first waste-to-coal manufacturing facility. The project, being developed at Gabbur by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN), marks a significant step toward scientific disposal of municipal waste and clean energy generation.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, visited the site to review progress. He described the initiative as a transformative effort that will enhance urban cleanliness, promote environmental sustainability  and reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels.

The Rs 157 crore project is designed to process around 200 tonnes of dry municipal waste, converting it into coal substitutes for industrial use. During the pilot phase, the facility has already demonstrated promising results, converting nearly 250 tonnes of waste into fuel within 72 hours. The plant is expected to become fully operational by January 2027.

Spread across eight acres, the facility includes two advanced processing units equipped with modern waste segregation and fuel production technologies. Notably, the plant adopts an energy-efficient model, sourcing only 20 per cent of its power from the grid while meeting the rest through gas generated during waste processing. This integrated system is expected to significantly lower its carbon footprint.

In addition to environmental benefits, the project will generate over 200 direct and indirect employment opportunities, benefiting local youth and skilled workers. Officials also noted that the initiative aligns with circular economy principles by recovering valuable resources from waste while reducing landfill dependency.

Minister Joshi emphasized that such innovative waste-to-fuel technologies could serve as a model for other cities across Karnataka and India, addressing the growing challenge of urban waste management sustainably.