SPARK
An energy update from GE in India
Edition - 6
Turning plastic waste into a 3000-meter road
LM Wind Power, a GE Renewable Energy business, is advancing sustainable solutions to unlock the value in waste. Nearly 20% of the materials purchased for blade manufacturing do not end up in the finished product. Additionally, according to research, the volume of waste from blade manufacturing is predicted to exceed that of end-of-life blades in the ensuing decades.
To tackle these challenges, LM Wind Power is designing out the waste from blades. Through our commitment to make Zero Waste Blades by 2030 we are exploring new ways to reduce, recycle and reuse manufacturing waste and developing a circular economy for all excess materials from manufacturing. This means that by 2030, we will not send any materials or packaging to landfill or incineration without energy recovery.
Traditionally non-recyclable waste such as Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) waste, resin & glue, spent solvents, etc., are disposed of through incineration. While the process generates heat that can be used for heating homes and can even generate power through steam turbines, incineration does not necessarily promote recycling and reduction in waste.
To find sustainable alternatives to incineration, the team in India collaborated with Bangalore University to study how FRP waste can work as an additive in concrete cement used in the construction industry. Their analysis showed that by adding FRP waste, the mechanical properties of concrete cement are enhanced by over 10%. After receiving regulatory approvals, FRP waste is now being reused for construction purposes. Inside its Dabaspet plant, a 3000-meter long road is constructed using FRP waste. Additionally, resin and glue waste are being used as an alternative fuel in the tile manufacturing industry. When mixed with coal and fed into a reactor, the combined mixture converts into ash that is used in making tiles.
Tackling legacy CO2 with Direct Air Capture
Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a carbon capture technology that uses chemical and physical means to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. It is like a giant air-freshening machine that collects carbon dioxide and then compresses it for burial underground or utilization in sustainable aviation fuels, concrete, petrochemical products, plastics, etc.
According to Jerry Liu, a Principal Scientist at GE, the device has a cage-like structure with the functionality to capture CO2 selectively. With its historical expertise in airflow technology, thermal management, and materials science, GE is deeply involved in DAC technology. GE Research is testing its own sorbent-based DAC system. Following the successful test of its first DAC prototype unit for CO2 removal in the lab, it is preparing to scale the technology to a much bigger level. David Moore, the carbon capture breakout technology leader for GE Research, says, “The initial results are impressive, and just a tremendous milestone in the project.” He adds that his group will be supersizing its model system more than 20-fold for a new round of tests starting next year.
The DAC system is part of a much larger effort led by GE’s CAGE (Climate Action@GE), GE Research’s preeminent research-and-development laboratory for advancing carbon capture and many adjacent technologies aimed at climate action. GE’s CAGE Lab involves a carbon capture team of over 50 scientists and engineers, working with the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, and a host of other industry and university partners on various projects to advance decarbonization solutions.
Supplying hydropower to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the first in India to run entirely on hydro & solar power
The commissioning of the 180 MW Bajoli Holi Project by GE Renewable Energy’s Hydropower business, part of GE Power India Limited (GEPIL), is a step towards using the power potential of Himachal Pradesh to support both the state and the entire northern region of India.
In addition to providing the local population with sustainable and clean energy, the Bajoli Holi Hydropower Plant actively contributes to the proper functioning of the country’s infrastructure. For instance, it generates 94 per cent of energy required by the Delhi International Airport Limited – the last 6 per cent coming from on-site solar power plants.
Three units of 60 MW each have been generating electricity since the project was connected to the grid in March 2022. The 180 MW run-of-the-river power facility has a head race tunnel of more than 16 km and has been constructed on the river Ravi in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
Sanjay Barde, CEO, GMR Energy, says “We wholeheartedly appreciate the GE Hydro Solutions team and their enormous efforts to bring this project to fruition. The immense hard work put in by them to commission all three units within 11 days of water availability while adhering to all quality and safety norms is commendable. We look forward to similar and even more enriching partnerships with GE to further our mutual vision.”
It is another example of the GE’s commitment to driving decarbonization for India’s energy transition journey through continuous innovation, technology, and investments.
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