Spongy coir pith, traditionally considered waste and used for nothing more than to fill low-lying lands, may now be used for generating electricity.Success of the Coir Board’s research and development wing in the experiment has prompted it to set up a power project.
“We are in talks with a Mumbai-based firm which has agreed to found a 10 MW plant at a cost of Rs 50 crore,” says G. Balachandran, Chairman, Coir Board. Power will be generated after removing moisture from coir pith. The Mumbai firm has got patent rights for the special drier. Coir Board is launching programme for scientific procurement of coconut husk that also generates pith.