Lok Sabha Question No. 193 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Use of Farm Stubble Pellets in Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018

USE OF FARM STUBBLE PELLETS IN POWER PLANTS

*193.   DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Union  Government  is  inclined  to  turn  the  use  of  farm residue based fuel into a policy for all power plants in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether  NTPC  has  implemented  a  plan  for  mixing  of  farm  stubble pellets up to 10 per cent of the total fuel in a power plant and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether  mixing  of  farm  stubble  pellets  will  affect  the  efficiency  in terms of gross calorific value and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether NTPC has planned to expand the scheme of mixing of farm stubble pellets gradually in all its plants and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the use of farm stubble pellets in power plants will increase the cost of power generation and if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.193 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 08.03.2018 REGARDING USE OF FARM STUBBLE PELLETS IN POWER PLANTS.

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(a) : Ministry of Power has issued a policy to use 5-10% of biomass pellets  along  with  coal  for  power  generation  in  thermal  power  plants. Further, in order to promote use of the Biomass pellets, Central Electricity Authority  vide  letter  dated  24.11.2017  has  written  to  all  Central/State Utilities, State Governments, Power Equipment Manufactures/IPPs/Generating Companies that all fluidized bed and pulverized  coal  units  (Coal  based  thermal  power  plants)  except  those having  ball  and  tube  mill,  of  power  generating  utilities,  public  or  private located  in  India,  shall  endeavour  to  use  5-10%  blend  of  Biomass  pellets made,  primarily,  of  agro  residue  along  with  coal  after  assessing  the technical feasibility, viz. Safety aspects etc.

(b) to (e) :   NTPC has test fired up to 10% biomass pellets along with coal at its NTPC Dadri plant.

To begin with, NTPC has invited tenders for procurement of 500 TPD (tonnes per day) agro residue based biomass pellets and 500 TPD of agro residue based torrefied biomass pellets/briquettes for power generation at NTPC Dadri Project to be supplied over a period of two years. NTPC has informed that mixing of biomass pellets with coal shall have a minor impact on the efficiency of the power plant.

The impact on the cost of generation will depend on difference in price of biomass pellets and that of coal, change in efficiency, auxiliary power consumption and additional capital expenditure required for biomass pellets material handling infrastructure.

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