Abellon Waste To Energy (WTE) Campus at Jamnagar by INI Design Studio

ADF12/13/2024≫ Architect≫ Design

Abellon Waste To Energy (WTE) Campus

Circular Economy for Local Social Improvement

INI Design Studio designed Abellon Waste To Energy (WTE) Campus at Jamnagar in India. Waste management is a global issue with local impact, and reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse is a core concern of the UN. India faces a pressing challenge, with 62 million tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated annually, only 69% of which is collected, and a mere 28% treated, leading to open landfills.

INI Design Studio

Aligned with the Paris Accord, COP 26 and the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission initiated by the Indian Prime Minister, Abellon, a pioneer in India's Waste-to-Energy (WTE) sector, aimed to process and dispose of 50-100% of the city waste, using controlled combustion technology, without the spread of odour, pathogens, or harmful emissions, which complies with MSW rule 2016 (initiated by Govt of India through Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change) and European Emission Norms.

INI Design Studio

The 7825 sqm WTE project campus at Jamnagar, Gujarat, converts 2,20,000 tons/year of MSW into 7.5 MW clean energy, enough to power 15000 homes, with zero toxic emissions, while transforming a 17-acre barren land into a greenbelt, with social infrastructure like a jogging track, playfield, research and community spaces. Using only 20% of the site, the rest is reserved for community activities and future expansion. Designed for the Indian urban context in terms of type and quantum of waste generated, it involves almost no human interface during the process.

INI Design Studio

Adopting “form follows function”, the simple, open-span, lightweight prefab recycled steel structure optimises process flow by vertical stacking and sizing of the equipment. The translucent, recyclable multilayered polycarbonate façade system with a compact footprint minimizes the surface to volume ratio, enhancing thermal performance, significantly reducing operational costs and energy consumption. Its light weight allows for efficient, easy installation and reconfiguration, and high strength renders it resistant to impact and fracture.

INI Design Studio

Water conservation and landscaping are key focusses. Unlike routine garbage collection landfills which are shunned due to stench and toxicity, here citizens benefit from green social landscape and fresh air. Orchards, green hedge walls, water bodies, and misting system, all guide cool breeze patterns, altering the microclimate. Over 40% of the landscaping is of drought- tolerant species. Treated municipal wastewater and advanced mist turbine condenser cooling save auxiliary power and retain evaporated water vapour. The roof and non-roof surfaces capture 100% run-off through 10 recharge wells.

Additional value chains in Waste-to-Energy sector, like producing BioCNG from organic MSW content, recovering recyclable plastic from heterogeneous MSW, green chemical production from specific components, co-firing eligible industrial waste, and converting fly ash into green construction blocks and pavers, create a circular economy. Design focus expanded to offer opportunities to host educational trips and research platforms, and benefits to workers contributed to social upliftment for the region.

This WTE Campus achieved the distinction of being awarded "India's first platinum-rated net-zero Green Waste-to-Energy Campus" by the Indian Green Building Council (part of World Green Building Council), BIG 5 Global Impact Awards 2024 in Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year Category (Finalist), Indian Building Congress (IBC) Award for excellence in built environment 2023-24, HUDCO Design Awards 2023-24 - Category 4 – Green Building, IIA National Awards for Excellence in Architecture 2022 for Industrial Category (Finalist), and the 2023 Green Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.