PEDA gets best green power plant award

Chandigarh, Sept 10 (UNI) High Rate Biomethanation Power Plant, based on cattle dung set up at Habowal Dairy Complex Ludhiana by the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA), has been awarded the ''Best Green Power Plant in Asia'' by Asian Power Magazine.

In a press release PEDA Chief Executive T P S Sidhu, informed that this project was set up as a demonstration project with 50 per cent grant support from Union Ministry of New and Renewable Sources of Energy (MNRE) under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF). The balance project's cost was borne by PEDA.

This project is first of its kind in the country, based on state-of-the-art technology provided by Austria. The project was commissioned in November 2004 and since then operating successfully.

The power generated from this project is being feed into the PSEB grid and the nutrient rich bio-manure produced is sold to the farmers.

Mr Sidhu informed that the award was received on behalf of PEDA by Joint Director Balour Singh and Sr Manager (Projects) M P Singh, in Bangkok at a special award ceremony organised by the Magazine.

Mr Sidhu said, ''PEDA has future plans to set up similar environment projects in the state and is also actively involved in setting up of Micro Hydro and Biomass based plants along with co-generation and solar power projects in the state.'' ''PEDA is also encouraging active private participation by the private developers in the New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NRSE) sector by providing attractive power purchase tariffs and other fiscal incentives as per State NRSE Policy,'' he said.

''PEDA, getting such an international award for its project is a matter of great pride and is international recognition of its efforts for promoting and developing environment friendly power projects and technologies in Punjab,'' he added.

UNI