Hyderabad: What once seemed like a far-fetched idea—generating electricity from vegetable waste—has now become a reality at Hyderabad’s Bowenpally Vegetable Market. The market collects nearly 10 tons of waste daily, which previously ended up in landfills but now serves as a primary source of electricity for its operations.
Srinivas, Secretary of Bowenpally Vegetable Market, shared that every bit of vegetable and fruit waste collected is efficiently used to generate approximately 500 units of electricity and 30 kg of biofuel daily. The electricity powers streetlights, 170 stalls, the administrative building, and the water supply network, while the biofuel fuels the market’s commercial kitchen. Dubbed a "path to a sustainable future," the biogas plant has also enabled the canteen to operate entirely on electricity generated from waste.
The market yard requires 650-700 units of power daily, with 7-8 tons of vegetable waste generating around 400 units on average. This innovative system has not only kept the marketplace clean and pollution-free but also attracted international delegates, who have lauded the initiative for its impactful efforts.
Bowenpally’s waste-to-energy plant generates employment for women by providing opportunities for them to work in various roles such as sorting and segregating waste, operating machinery, and managing administrative tasks. This plant offers women workers a steady income along with an opportunity for skill development. According to Bowenpally market officials, on average, 10 tons of waste is generated per day. This waste has the potential to generate approximately 6,290 kg of CO2 per annum which could be more damaging to the environment. To address this issue, Bowenpally vegetable market officials decided to turn this waste into energy.
Bowenpally’s Biogas Plant: Turning Waste into Energy
The Bowenpally Vegetable Market collects waste generated from rotten and unsold vegetables across the city, including nearby market yards. The process begins with chopping the vegetables into smaller pieces, which are then transferred via a conveyor belt to a shredder. Here, the waste is crushed into uniform sizes and further ground into a slurry using a grinder. This slurry is then sent to anaerobic digesters for processing.
The biogas generated is collected and stored in balloons for future use. Apart from the gas, bio-manure is produced as a valuable by-product. The biogas is directed through a pipeline system for cooking purposes, while the biofuel is supplied to a 100% biogas generator that powers cold storage rooms, water pumps, shops, and streetlights within the market.
This biogas plant, funded by the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Agriculture Marketing Telangana in 2021, operates under the patented technology of CSIR-IICT. Its implementation was executed by Hyderabad-based Ahuja Engineering Services Pvt Ltd, marking a significant step toward sustainable urban waste management.
Vegetable Market Caught Attention Of PM Modi
The Bowenpally Vegetable Market caught Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention for its innovative waste management system. PM praised the one-of-its-kind bioelectricity, biofuel and bio-manure generation project during one of Mann Ki Baat episodes. Stating that the market’s waste is now being turned into wealth, PM said, “We have observed that in sabzi mandis, vegetables rot due to multiple reasons, spreading unhygienic conditions. However, traders at Hyderabad’s Bowenpally Sabzi Mandi decided to produce electricity out of waste vegetables. This is the power of innovation.”
