India's state of Haryana has inaugurated a 240-tonne-per-day biomass pellet plant in Rewari. The facility was opened by Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi.
The project is part of Haryana’s broader clean energy initiative, aimed at supporting rural livelihoods, increasing farmer incomes, and strengthening India’s renewable energy sector.
The new plant will convert agricultural residues into biomass pellets for cofiring in thermal power stations, reducing reliance on coal and tackling issues such as stubble burning.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Joshi said the plant aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a sustainable and energy-secure India.
He highlighted the government’s recent policy mandating the cofiring of at least 5% biomass or torrefied municipal solid waste (MSW) charcoal in coal-based thermal power plants, with a 7% blend required for plants in the Delhi-NCR region.
For these plants, at least half of the biomass will be sourced from local paddy residue and stubble, creating a sustainable supply chain while addressing air pollution concerns.
Minister Joshi noted that India has nearly doubled its electricity generation capacity over the past decade and now exports power to neighbouring regions, with Haryana benefiting from this growth.
The state currently has more than 12GW of installed capacity and is expected to reach 24GW in the coming years.
Haryana has also made progress in renewable energy, with over 2.8GW of capacity installed, including around 2.4GW of solar power.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 200,000 households have applied for rooftop solar systems, and over 45,000 homes have already installed panels, significantly reducing electricity costs.
The minister also highlighted Haryana’s emerging role in green hydrogen, citing pioneering projects in Hisar, Panipat, and Jhajjar.
The state’s biomass potential exceeds 1,350MW, complemented by a growing waste-to-energy ecosystem of nearly 49MW across 26 operational units.
Haryana opens biomass pellet plant
