The government of India has been attempting to address the issue of stubble burning by focusing on ex-situ mechanisms of handling biomass or crop residue management (CRM). Among these mechanisms are biomass co-firing and production of bio-CNG. Although there have been efforts to implement these procedures, significant progress has been slow.
The Centre for Science and Environment Study
In 2022, The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) conducted a survey to understand the status of the policy implementation regarding co-firing biomass in coal-fired thermal power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR). The study found that by the end of 2022, co-firing was sporadic, with most plants only conducting trial runs. To improve this situation, efforts need to be made towards increased biomass co-firing.
Reasons for Delay in Biomass Co-Firing Implementation
The CSE investigated the reasons behind the delay in implementing mandated 5% co-firing by coal thermal power plants (TPP) in the NCR and adjoining areas. Several factors contributing to the delay were identified. These included a consistent and affordable biomass supply, technical limitations, a shortage of torrefied biomass pellet manufacturers, and the absence of established technology for manufacturing torrefied biomass pellets.
Efforts to Overcome Supply Challenges
Several plants initiated measures to address the supply challenge by issuing tenders for raw materials to set up in-house pellet manufacturing units. They also explored partnerships and in-house manufacturing for biomass pellets. However, despite these efforts, challenges remain in implementing biomass co-firing for farm fire reduction.
About Biomass Co-firing
Biomass co-firing is the practice of substituting a part of the coal fuel with biomass at coal thermal plants. This process converts biomass to electricity in an efficient, clean manner, reduces GHG (Greenhouse Gases) emissions, and is a globally accepted cost-effective method for decarbonising a coal fleet. In India, co-firing 5 to 7% biomass pellets in thermal power plants can prevent 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Agro Residues for Biomass Pellet Production
The Ministry of Power has identified various surplus agro residues that can be utilized for biomass pellet production. These include agro-residues from a variety of crops, shell waste products, and additional biomass materials such as Bamboo and its by-products, horticulture waste, and more.
Government Interventions in Biomass Co-firing
The Indian government has initiated several interventions to support biomass co-firing. These include financial assistance schemes from agencies like the MNRE and CPCB, approval of ‘Biomass pellet manufacturing’ as an eligible activity under Priority Sector Lending (PSL) by RBI, and establishment of a dedicated Procurement Provision of Biomass Category on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
Way Forward
In order to streamline the process of biomass co-firing, several key steps can be taken. These include ensuring a steady supply of biomass to power plants by developing a reliable supply chain, building necessary infrastructure and logistics to transport, store, and process biomass, and developing and implementing a robust regulatory framework to provide incentives and support for biomass co-firing.
The way forward also includes addressing the specific technical challenges of biomass co-firing, such as developing specialized boilers, burners, and control systems that can handle the unique characteristics of biomass, as well as retrofitting existing equipment to accommodate biomass co-firing.
UPSC Civil Services Examination: Past Questions
Questions asked in previous years’ UPSC Civil Services Examinations reflect the importance of understanding the significance of biomass co-firing and related biomass management practices. For instance, a 2019 question focused on identifying gases released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue. Similarly, a 2013 question dealt with the usefulness of by-products of the sugar industry, including their role as biomass fuel for the generation of energy and as feedstock for the production of ethanol.
