Archea helps solve waste and energy problems in India's popular holiday destination, Goa

Goa, the smallest Indian state, is also one of the most popular travel destinations in India. What began in the late 60s with the arrival of hippies and Western expatriates has evolved into a hotspot of the tourism industry on the subcontinent, thanks to its idyllic beaches and exotic landscapes. Unfortunately, this growth has also brought about negative developments. Environmental issues have escalated over the decades due to the increasing number of tourists and supporting facilities, impacting both the environment and the local population.

Particularly, deficiencies in waste disposal had reached alarming levels, prompting local authorities and policymakers to take appropriate action. Under the "Make in India" program of the government, the foundation stone for India's most advanced waste disposal facility was laid on November 21, 2014. The project, realized within approximately 18 months with German expertise and significant involvement from ARCHEA Biogas based in Hessisch Oldendorf, is now operational. Recently, the Chief Minister of Goa, Laxmikant Parsekar, and the Indian Defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar, inaugurated this flagship facility.

This facility operates on the principle of a combination of mechanical and biological processes (MTB) to first separate organic from inorganic waste cleanly. While the latter is subjected to a recycling process, the ARCHEA plant technology facilitates the conversion of biological residues into valuable end products such as biomethane, thus providing an ecologically sustainable energy source at a decentralized level. The electricity produced from a portion of the biogas through a cogeneration plant is then used to meet the electricity demand of the entire facility. Additionally, composting and maturation of the dewatered digestate are intended to yield biofertilizer. Approximately 40,000 tons of household waste can be processed annually.

The use of computer-controlled equipment allows for the processing of various input materials while maintaining high safety standards for the workers. The control system for the facility was provided by long-time partner company Eckel Steuerungstechnik from Rinteln. The facility was designed to minimize odor nuisances and potential groundwater contamination through percolation. It is also intended to serve as a learning center to raise awareness among the Indian population about the positive impacts of modern waste management systems.

Oliver Nacke, founder and CEO of ARCHEA, sees this flagship project as a validation of his company's approach to develop decentralized solutions for the specific problems of municipalities in emerging countries, involving local people, politics, and businesses. Outside of Europe, ARCHEA has successfully implemented similar projects in Brazil, which alleviate glaring deficiencies in waste management and generate energy, making communities, regions, and businesses somewhat self-sufficient. Oliver Nacke particularly acknowledges the efforts of the Indian partners on the ground and his employees, who, despite the sometimes extremely challenging climatic conditions for Central Europeans, wholeheartedly pushed forward the project's completion according to plan.

Follow-up projects in India are in preparation. Here too, the goal is to combine ecology and economics to create decentralized disposal and supply structures for villages without sewage systems and connection to the power grid. Additionally, in Germany, ARCHEA aims to continue contributing to the fight against anthropogenic climate change and is working on virtual power plant concepts based on solar, wind, biogas, and battery storage.