NTPC ropes in Macawber Beekay to supply green coal for power projects

New Delhi: State-owned power giant NTPC Limited has partnered with Macawber Beekay to supply charcoal (green coal) to help the energy giant reduce carbon emissions while generating electricity, the waste-to-energy firm announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, Macawber Beekay Private Ltd (MBL) revealed it has secured three NTPC Green Coal projects in Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Hubbali (Karnataka).

Green coal is charcoal produced from municipal solid waste (MSW) through a thermal treatment process called torrefaction, conducted in an oxygen-deficient environment, MBL explained.

To supply the material, MBL will establish three green coal manufacturing units with the capacity to process 900 tonnes per day (TPD) of MSW in Noida, 500 TPD in Bhopal, and 400 TPD in Hubbali. This is in addition to a similar project secured from NTPC in Varanasi earlier, the company added.

MBL aims to complete these three projects by August 2025 in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode. Upon completion, the total waste handling capacity of the four projects will reach 2,400 TPD, producing 800 tonnes of green coal per day for NTPC. The use of green coal or charcoal will aid in reducing carbon emissions while generating power.

"Following the successful demonstration of the technology at NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd in Varanasi, the CPSU has now awarded us more waste-to-green coal projects. We will be setting up the largest waste-to-green coal plant in Greater Noida, with a capacity of 900 TPD," said Gautam Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Macawber Beekay.

The Varanasi project has a 600 TPD waste handling capacity and generates 200 tonnes of green coal daily. Noida-based Macawber Beekay is a leading player in the waste-to-energy segment.