Haycarb’s Recogen plant wins National Science and Technology Award

The world’s only pollution-free charcoaling plant that converts the energy released in the process into electricity, was recognised at national level recently with the top award in the ‘Development of Eco-materials/Eco-friendly Processes for Industry’ category at the National Science and Technology Awards.

Conceptualised and developed by Haycarb PLC and built by Recogen Ltd, its wholly-owned subsidiary, the plant at Badalgama converts coconut shell into charcoal in a mechanised process that uses ‘Pyrolysis’ (carbonisation in the absence of oxygen) and combusts the methane-rich gasses released, a major pollutant, to run a steam turbine that produces electricity for the national grid, the company said.

Designed as a backward integration to supply charcoal for Haycarb’s activated carbon manufacturing operations, the patented process replaces the environmentally hazardous traditional charcoaling pits, captures and uses volatile gasses that would otherwise enter the atmosphere, generates electricity and produces high-grade charcoal for its parent company.

Nearly 10 years in research, development, engineering and operation, Recogen (derived from ‘Recover and Generate’) will by June 2009 represent an investment of Rs 1 billion.

It will comprise of 6 charcoaling reactors that will produce 60 Tonnes of charcoal a day, generate 5 megawatts of power and earn the country carbon credits of 46,000 Tons a year under the Kyoto Protocol for the avoidance of methane and carbon dioxide emissions and the reduction of fossil fuel usage.