The Association of Power Producers (APP) on Thursday said several thermal power plants failed to meet biomass co-firing targets in 2024–25 mainly because of limited availability of biomass fuel and technical challenges, and not due to a lack of intent or effort by power generators, reports Bizz Buzz.
The statement comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued show-cause notices to six thermal power stations located within a 300-km radius of Delhi. The commission has proposed environmental compensation of Rs 61.85 crore for the reported shortfall in meeting co-firing norms.
APP said the domestic supply of torrefied biomass pellets, which are required for plants using ball and tube mills, is still poorly developed. It added that power producers continue to face problems such as limited supplier capacity, high rejection of pellets due to excess moisture or volatile content, and the lack of solutions approved by equipment manufacturers.
The association cited the case of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, a 1,980-MW thermal power plant in Punjab, which struggled to source enough torrefied biomass during the financial year despite issuing multiple tenders for procurement.
According to APP, these constraints have made it difficult for power plants to fully comply with biomass co-firing requirements, even as generators continue efforts to align with environmental norms.
