Abellon Waste to Energy (WTE) Campus at Jamnagar | INI Design Studio

View of the Facility across the landscaped lawns

The simple, open-span, lightweight prefab recycled steel structure

Treated municipal wastewater and advanced mist turbine condenser cooling save auxiliary power and retain evaporated water vapour

The light weight structure allows for efficient, easy installation and reconfiguration, and high strength renders it resistant to impact and fracture

Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

Abellon Waste to Energy (WTE) Campus at Jamnagar
URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYS0_3C1KX0
Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

Waste management is a global issue with profound local impact. Reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse is central to the UN Sustainable Development Goals aimed at minimizing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. While waste management is a basic human need, it often receives less attention than other utilities, which has costly consequences for society, the environment, and the economy.

India faces a pressing challenge with 62 million tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated annually, of which only 69% is collected and a mere 28% treated, resulting in sprawling open landfills. The Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project in Jamnagar, spearheaded by Abellon, a pioneer in India's WTE sector, tackles this issue by converting waste into a valuable resource. This initiative aligns with global commitments such as the Paris Accord, COP 26, and India’s Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission initiated by Prime Minister Modi.

The project aims to process and dispose of 50-100% of the city’s waste using controlled combustion technology. This method not only eliminates harmful emissions but also complies with MSW Rules 2016 and European Emission Norms, ensuring that odours, pathogens, and pollutants are not released into the environment. By addressing legacy waste issues in landfills, it also mitigates the release of harmful greenhouse gases, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation.

Beyond waste reduction, the project exemplifies circularity by transforming waste into energy and valuable by-products. Recyclables, including metals and plastics, are extracted and repurposed, while residual ash is used in construction materials. This creates a circular loop where waste is minimized, resources are recovered, and energy is generated, thereby turning a linear problem into a regenerative solution. The project promotes a sustainable urban ecosystem, benefiting both the environment and the local economy.
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?

Planet:
The WTE plant prioritizes environmental sustainability by converting 750 metric tons of municipal solid waste into 7.5 megawatts of renewable energy daily. This reduces landfill usage and prevents 37,317 tons of GHG emissions. It also processes waste from agricultural fields, agro-processing units, and organic leftovers from select industries. It aligns with global goals like the Paris Agreement and India’s net-zero target for 2070. Incorporating advanced waste processing technology compliant with MSW Rules 2016 and European Emission Norms, ensures zero harmful emissions. 80% of the site is dedicated to green infrastructure, with over 10,000 trees, supporting biodiversity and reducing the urban heat island effect. Natural resource conservation is further enhanced by 100% soil conservation and innovative reuse of greywater, reducing marine pollution in this coastal region.

People:
The project provides a cleaner environment by reducing waste accumulation in public spaces and minimizing odors and pathogens associated with landfills. It also serves as a community hub, hosting events such as art exhibitions, sports activities, and festivals. Collaborations with universities foster research in environmental science, raising awareness about sustainable waste management and encouraging local population to participate in recycling, waste segregation and greening initiatives. By incorporating Vastu and Vedic principles in the design, the campus fosters a positive work environment that enhances the well-being of employees and visitors alike. Moreover, the project created jobs during its construction and continues to provide employment for skilled labor in its ongoing operations.

Profit:
By converting MSW into renewable energy, it supplies enough electricity to power 15,000 homes, reducing dependence on traditional energy sources and cutting energy costs. This energy is fed into the local grid. Additionally, it creates diverse revenue streams from material recovery, biogas production, construction materials, carbon credits, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms.
Keywords

#Sustainable Waste Management #Renewable Energy #Circular Economy
If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

https://www.inidesignstudio.com/portfolio/waste-to-energy-campus-jamnagar/
https://www.inidesignstudio.com/
If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

https://www.instagram.com/inidesignstudio/ https://www.facebook.com/inidesignstudio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ini-design-studio https://twitter.com/inidesignstudio https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZe6KcmUGSg6y_eU8LuFijA
Special Prize Question 1: "Empowering nature to create a new loop”: How does your work strengthen or support nature’s ability to capture and convert waste into valuable resources? How does your work advance industry practices by introducing nature-positive alternatives?

The WTE Jamnagar project strengthens nature's ability to manage waste by converting municipal waste into renewable energy, creating a circular loop where waste is not the end product but a resource. By capturing the energy stored in waste and turning it into electricity, the project mimics natural processes like decomposition and recycling, enhancing the environment’s capacity to manage urban waste sustainably.

By reducing landfill use, the project minimizes harmful emissions such as methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. It also preserves valuable land that would otherwise be used for waste disposal. The project introduces nature-positive alternatives to traditional waste management by integrating technology that optimizes the energy conversion process, ensuring minimal emissions and a positive environmental footprint. This approach is scalable and could become a blueprint for other cities, advancing industry practices and fostering a sustainable, circular economy.
Special Prize Question 2: “Regenerating ecosystems”: In what inspiring ways does your work contribute to the restoration and stabilization of natural ecosystems?

The WTE project contributes to ecosystem restoration by significantly reducing the environmental burden associated with landfills. Methane emissions from decomposing organic matter in landfills are a significant contributor to climate change. By diverting this waste for energy conversion, the project helps restore air quality and reduce the carbon footprint of waste management.

Furthermore, the project helps stabilize ecosystems by reducing leachate—the liquid that drains from landfills, contaminating soil and groundwater. This protects local ecosystems from pollution and encourages biodiversity in urban areas. By focusing on waste as a resource rather than a problem, the project ensures that cities are not only generating clean energy but also reducing their ecological footprint, ultimately contributing to healthier and more resilient ecosystems.
Special Prize Question 3: “Education and storytelling”: How does your work make complex bioeconomy concepts accessible and engaging?

The WTE project serves as a powerful educational tool, demystifying complex bioeconomy concepts like waste-to-energy conversion and the circular economy. It engages the public through outreach programs that explain how everyday waste can be transformed into energy, turning a traditionally negative process into a positive one.

To make these concepts accessible, the project includes public tours, educational materials, and school programs that show the energy conversion process in real-time. This fosters a deeper understanding of sustainability practices, waste management, and renewable energy. By framing waste as a valuable resource, the project reshapes public perceptions and encourages behavioral change, making sustainability engaging and actionable for a wide audience. Through interactive storytelling, it highlights the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.