Lok Sabha Question No. 104 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Benefits of Co-firing Biomass Pellets in TPPs
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shyam Yadav Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.104

## ANSWERED ON 27.07.2023

## BENEFITS OF CO-FIRING BIOMASS PELLETS IN TPPS

*104. SHRI SHYAM SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has carried out experiments to ascertain the benefits of co-firing biomass pellets in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) to reduce reliance on coal and mitigate air pollution due to stubble burning;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  there  is  a  detailed  strategy,  project/  programme  for  the production  of  biomass  pellets  to  be  used  for  co-firing  in  thermal  power plants; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

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

*******

STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.104 FOR REPLY ON 27.07.2023 REGARDING BENEFITS OF CO-FIRING BIOMASS PELLETS IN TPPs ASKED BY SHRI SHYAM SINGH YADAV

*********

- (a) & (b) :   Experiments  have  been carried  out  by  NTPC-NETRA    in  NTPC Dadri coal based thermal power plant to ascertain the impact of co-firing biomass on the Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). Through the studies, it has been well established that 5% to 10% of biomass can be safely co-fired with coal in TPPs without any adverse impact on the power plant.  To that extend this would help in reducing requirement of coal for the TPPs and also mitigate air pollution caused due to stubble burning, to some extent.

So far around 2.1 Lakh Metric Ton (LMT) of agro-residue based biomass has been co-fired in coal based thermal power plants,  leading to reduction  of  more  than  2.5  Lakh  Metric  Tonnes  (LMT)  carbon  dioxide emissions.

- (c) & (d) :   To  address  the  burning  issue  of  air  pollution  particularly  in National Capital Region (NCR) due to farm stubble burning and to reduce carbon  footprints  of  thermal  power  generation,  the  Ministry  of  Power constituted  the  National  Mission  on  Use  of  Biomass  in  Thermal  Power Plants (SAMARTH) on 12th July 2021 and the revised biomass policy was issued on 8 th  October 2021, mandating all TPPs in the country to use 5% of  biomass  pellets  in  the  co-firing  with  coal.  This  policy  was  further modified vide Ministry's O.M dated 16.06.2023. Besides, Government has also taken the following steps:
- (i) A customized window has been made available on the GeM Portal for Biomass pellet procurement.
- (ii) Biomass has been notified under Priority Sector lending by the RBI. This  would enable easier & faster  availability of  bank  loans  to  the pellet  manufacturers.  The  State  Bank  of  India  has  launched  a dedicated scheme to provide long term loan to pellet manufacturers.

........2.

- (iii) Following  Financial  Subsidy  Schemes  have  been  issued  by  Central Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  and  Ministry  of  New  &  Renewable Energy (MNRE) to encourage the new entrepreneurs:
- i. MNRE  Scheme  'Biomass  Programme'  provides  assistance  to set up the biomass pellet plants.
- ii. CPCB  guidelines  'One-time  financial  assistance  scheme  for setting up pellets plant in NCR'

For providing financial assistance for setting up biomass pellet manufacturing  plants,  schemes  envisaged  are  (a)  MNRE  Bio  Energy Schemes in which Pellet Manufacturing plants will be provided with Rs. 9 Lakh per MTPH (Metric Ton Per Hour) or Rs 45 Lakhs per plant as Central Financial Assistance (b) CPCB  financial support under  Environment Protection Charge (EPC) funds for  both pelletisation plant & torrefaction plant  i.e.  a  maximum  amount  of  Rs.  28  lakhs  per  ton  plant  production capacity  per  hour,  or  40%  of  the  capital  cost  considered  for  plant  and machinery of a 1 TPH plant; whichever is lower, shall be given as one-time financial support by CPCB, subject to a maximum total financial support of Rs. 1.4 crore per proposal.

***********