State-owned Indian, power giant NTPC has co-fired 77,000 tonnes of biomass at 14 of its thermal power plants across the country, a spokesperson for the company said.
The Indian power ministry’s policy on Biomass Utilisation for Power Generation through Co-firing in coal-based Power Plants, issue in October 2021, mandates all thermal power plants in the country to use 5 – 10 percent biomass, along with coal for power production.
Operations director Ramesh Babu described the potential of biomass as “an untapped resource, additional source of income, high scale demand and favourable government policies”.
He added that NTPC has also taken other steps towards biomass utilisation in TPPs (Thermal Power Plants) - he said “14 NTPC plants have already started co-firing and approximately 77,000 tonnes of biomass has been co-fired to date”.
In order to reduce stubble burning and to reduce the carbon footprint of TPPs whilst increasing the income of farmers, the government has taken various proactive measures with the establishment of the National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants – SAMART, according to an official statement.
“The agro-residue/biomass, earlier considered a waste produce, is used to produce zero-carbon electricity. In turn, farmers get additional income by selling the stubble/biomass for conversion into torrefied/non-torrefied biomass pellets,” the statement said.
NTPC co-fires 77,000 tonnes of biomass at 14 plants
