From Waste to Watts: Kerala’s Muttathara Plant to Generate Power from Sewage Sludge

Thiruvananthapuram: In a first- of -its -kind initiative, human waste in Kerala’s capital will soon be converted into electricity.

Local Self- Governments Minister M B Rajesh on Wednesday inaugurated the construction of a 36- crore rupees Omni Processor at the Muttathara sewage treatment plant. The project, fully funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is being hailed as a major step forward in waste management.

Thiruvananthapuram has the state’s only extensive sewer system, channeling wastewater from households and commercial establishments to the 107 MLD (million litres per day) Muttathara plant. Around 90–100 trucks bring faecal sludge to the facility daily. Currently, the plant treats 55–65 MLD of sewage through the Activated Sludge Process (ASP), which involves screening, aeration tanks, clarifiers, sludge thickeners, drying beds, and chlorination.

For over a decade, sludge management has been a challenge, with 5–8 tons accumulating every day and often being dumped on-site. The Omni Processor aims to end this by thermally treating faecal sludge, biosolids, and other waste. It eliminates pathogens while producing electricity, treated water, distilled water, and ash as by-products.

According to officials, the new facility will not only generate enough electricity to fully power its operations but will also ensure complete disposal of the sludge.

Rajesh noted that Hyderabad was initially considered for the project, but due to active intervention by the Kerala government, support from the Swachh Bharat Mission, and technical assistance from the WASH Institute, the project was brought to Thiruvananthapuram. Securing clearance from the Airport Authority was another hurdle, but sustained government efforts resolved the issue.

Construction of the Omni Processor is expected to be completed by March next year, after which the plant will begin operations.

“This project is a milestone in Kerala’s waste management journey,” Rajesh said, adding that it reflects the state’s commitment to sustainable development.