The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Break Out The Old Spice - Big Chilli Is On The Horizon

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
28 November 2018
 

GSH has won a major environment award - for replacing coal with turmeric! Rumour has it that the company will be adding chilli to the menu of coal replacements.

The Environment category at this year’s Energy Institute Awards went to GSH Group India for its work with Kaleesuwari - switching from coal to biomass products, including turmeric and sawdust, to produce steam for its refineries in India.

The announcement was made last week (November 22) at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane. The awards recognise schemes and projects that enhance the environment or offset carbon emissions including a demonstrable commitment to managing the risks of energy to the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of the industry.

GSH faced fierce competition in this category – including a project to reduce air pollution in Beijing and another in an Iranian gas refinery.

 

CO2 reductions

GSH has worked with Kaleesuwari since 2015 managing its refineries in India to produce steam used in the extraction of oils from nuts, seeds and other raw materials for sale into the food markets in the country. In November 2017 they started to mix biomass – including sawdust, wood charcoal powder and turmeric – with coal as a fuel for the fluidized-bed combustion boilers in two power refineries in Palani and Chennai.

Over the course of the following six months, this increased to 60% and 20% biomass respectively, and GSH achieved a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions together with a 15% reduction in the cost of steam. Biomass ash content is low compared to coal, making for easy and more environmentally-friendly disposal. And the products, which are sustainably sourced from close to the refineries, are safer to store.

 

Chilli powder

The results have been so positive that GSH is now in the process of switching over completely to biomass and increasing the range of biomass products it uses including chilli powder.

 

EI Awards

The EI Awards, now in their 19th year, is run by the Energy Institute. President Malcolm Brinded said: “Beating climate change – while extending the tremendous benefits of energy to all populations - calls for innovation and a lot of hard work, by many smart people, all around the world.”

Picture: Right to left - The Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Louise Minchin who presented the awards; Rachael Scarr-Hall, chairman of GSH; Lord Deben, chairman of the Committee on Climate Change; Dr Sethumadhaven and GD Anand at GSH Group India.

 

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 28 November 2018

Share



Related Articles

BCIA Awards 2020 Finalists Announced

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has announced the finalists for the BCIA Awards 2020. The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) represents...

 Read Full Article
BESA Wins Best Use of Technology Award

The Building Engineering Services Association has won the Best Use of Technology Award at the Trade Association Awards 2023 for its Ventilation Hygiene Elite...

 Read Full Article
Reforms for Britain's Energy Capacity Market

Improved energy security and a more secure transition to net-zero are set to be delivered through the UK government’s significant proposals to reform Great...

 Read Full Article
Metsä Tissue and CSSA Launch Sustainability Awards Competition

Metsä Tissue, in partnership with the Cleaning & Services Support Association, is holding the first-of-its-kind sustainability awards competition for the hygiene...

 Read Full Article
Women in FM Recognised in WiHTL 2022 Women to Watch & Role Models Index

The Women to Watch & Role Models for Inclusion in Hospitality, Travel & Leisure (HTL) Index 2022 has named several women working in facilities management in its...

 Read Full Article
Compass Group Awards Cleaner £10,000 for “Be A Star” Award

Jackie Kennedy, a cleaner who works for FM company 14forty, has won a £10,000 prize for her charity work. Jackie started collecting loose change she found while...

 Read Full Article
Leeds College of Building Celebrates Women's Awards

Staff at Leeds College of Building are elated after an unprecedented flurry of student award successes, with female students leading the way. Medallists at...

 Read Full Article
Mitie Only Facilities Management Company to Rank in Inclusive UK Employer List

Mitie has been named in the list of Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers for the fifth year running. Ranked in 17th place, Mitie was recognised for its diversity and...

 Read Full Article
Sodexo’s Tom Martin Wins Young Leader of the Year Award

Tom Martin, Contract Manager for Student Living by Sodexo at Northumbria University, has been named Young Leader of the Year at the 2022 PFM awards. Tom joins a list...

 Read Full Article
Willmott Dixon Awarded UK’s Best Workplace Award

Willmott Dixon has been recognised as one of the UK’s top workplaces. The construction company came first in the Big Company category of the Best Companies...

 Read Full Article