The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced that 71 coal-fired power plants across India are now co-firing biomass with coal, a step aimed at cutting carbon emissions and reducing stubble burning, reports Bioenergy Insight.
Biomass co-firing involves mixing agricultural waste, such as paddy straw and crop residues, with coal in existing power stations. This helps lower air pollution from stubble burning and reduces the plants’ carbon footprint.
In October 2021, the Ministry of Power made it compulsory for all coal-based plants to use at least five per cent unmixed biomass in their fuel, with the target set to rise to seven per cent by 2025–26.
Although the number of plants adopting the practice has increased — from 47 in mid-2023 to 71 now — progress has been uneven. Some facilities face technical challenges and supply chain issues, while the country’s biomass pellet production capacity remains limited.
CAQM data shows that co-firing has already had a measurable impact. Earlier figures reported 165,000 tonnes of agro-residue-based biomass used by 47 plants. More recent estimates suggest 814,000 tonnes have been used, preventing about 0.97 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
In certain areas, particularly Delhi-NCR, the biomass share in the fuel mix has often stayed below one per cent and is used only occasionally.
To address these hurdles, the government is promoting the SAMARTH scheme, offering funding for biomass pellet manufacturing, creating supplier databases and encouraging long-term contracts.
Pilot projects by major companies, including NTPC, have shown that co-firing rates of up to 20 per cent are possible using torrefied biomass, pointing to the potential for wider adoption.
