Vedanta Power has expanded its waste-to-energy operations at the Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL) plant in Punjab, using biomass to reduce open-field burning of crop residue.
The plant integrated torrefied biomass into its existing boilers while maintaining stable power supply, co-firing about 0.329 million tonnes of biomass during the 2025–26 financial year, Construction World reported.
It achieved an average biomass co-firing rate of 5.16 per cent during the year, exceeding norms set by the Commission for Air Quality Management. The regulator requires thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi to use biomass along with coal to cut emissions and tackle seasonal stubble burning.
Under the model, paddy straw sourced from local farmers is converted into torrefied biomass pellets and used as an alternative fuel. The company said it engaged around 3,800 farmers in the Mansa region and facilitated the collection of about 0.8 million tonnes of paddy straw.
Vedanta Power estimated that the co-firing initiative helped cut carbon emissions equivalent to about 0.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2025–26, highlighting the environmental benefits of reducing coal use.
The company, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, said the initiative also provides farmers with an additional source of income and helps build a structured system for collecting agricultural residue.
Officials added that the Talwandi Sabo model could be replicated at other thermal plants to address air pollution and reduce stubble burning across the region.
