According to a recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), none of the 11 coal-fired power plants in Delhi-NCR had co-fired even 1% of biomass in their operations up until last year. The report, titled ‘The Indian Carbon Market: Pathway Towards an Effective Mechanism,’ was released on Tuesday and highlights the severe lack of biomass co-firing at these thermal power plants (TPPs).
In September 2021, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) required 11 TPPs within a 300-kilometre radius of Delhi-NCR to incorporate biomass pellets as a 5 to 10% substitute for coal. By December 2023, these plants were expected to achieve at least 10% co-firing. The report notes that while two plants in NCR have recently achieved 2-3% co-firing, most plants have not started the process, even though 2024–25 marks the first compliance year.
Anubha Aggarwal, author of a 2023 study on biomass co-firing in Delhi-NCR coal thermal power plants, defines biomass co-firing as the partial replacement of coal with biomass fuel in power generation, with coal remaining the primary fuel.
“Given Delhi’s significant air pollution issues, biomass co-firing is crucial. Currently, only Jajjar TPP and Indira Gandhi TPP are co-firing at 2-3% biomass levels. The CAQM mandate imposes strict penalties for non-compliance,” said Parth Kumar, author of the CSE report.
Under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, 2021, failing to comply with CAQM’s biomass co-firing directive can result in imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to 1 crore, or both. Kumar expressed that although there is currently some laxity among the NCR plants, he believes that the pressure will increase with the upcoming Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO) in the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and the CAQM mandate. He also emphasized that non-compliance by TPPs affects efforts to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.
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