The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India has recently released draft guidelines titled ‘Guidelines for Promoting Community Boilers for Clusters of Small-Scale Industries’. These guidelines aim to encourage the use of community boilers in clusters of small-scale industries, offering a potential solution to the environmental challenges posed by individual small boilers. With millions of small-scale industries relying on boilers for steam generation and heating purposes, addressing the issues associated with these boilers becomes imperative for a cleaner and more sustainable industrial sector.
Understanding the Challenges with Small Boilers
- The Union Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) estimates that there are approximately 10.5 million small-scale industries in India, with around four million boilers installed, ranging in capacity from 2 to 15 tonnes per hour. These boilers, commonly referred to as “baby boilers” or “small boilers,” are primarily used to fulfill the steam requirements of industries or for heating purposes. However, several issues associated with these small boilers have been identified.
- A report by the Centre for Science and Environment shed light on the challenges posed by small boilers. One key issue is the lenient emission standards, which were recently revised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The emission standards for boilers with a capacity lower than 2 tonnes per hour were increased from 1,200 milligrams per normal cubic meter (mg/Nm3) to 500 mg/Nm3. Additionally, the unavailability of air pollution control devices (APCD), lack of proper monitoring mechanisms, and the feasibility challenges of installing Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) have been significant concerns.
Introducing Community Boilers as a Solution
- To address the issues associated with small boilers, the recommendations put forth by the study highlight the potential benefits of centralizing steam generation through community boilers and establishing steam pipeline networks within industrial clusters. Community boilers, also known as common boilers, are centralized systems that cater to the steam generation requirements of member industrial units by establishing a steam pipeline network within an industrial area.
- Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in adopting this approach, with three community boiler facilities serving 90 industrial units in Ankleshwar, Vapi, and Sachin. Moreover, similar community boiler facilities have been proposed in Panipat, Haryana, and Tarapur, Maharashtra. The Government of Uttar Pradesh has also conducted a feasibility study for community boilers to be set up in various industrial areas in the Greater Noida and Lucknow regions.
Benefits and Implementation Considerations
The installation of community boilers offers numerous benefits for industries located in clusters and other stakeholders:
- Reduced Emission Points: By centralizing steam generation, community boilers reduce multiple emission points to a single source, enabling better monitoring and control of emissions.
- Operational Cost Savings: Industries will no longer bear the operation and management costs associated with having individual boilers within their premises, leading to potential cost savings.
- Increased Productivity: The removal of individual boilers creates additional space within industrial units, providing the potential to enhance productivity and utilization of available resources.
- Continuous Steam Supply: Community boilers ensure a consistent and uninterrupted supply of steam to industries, eliminating downtime and enhancing production efficiency.
- Improved Pollution Control: With better pollution control measures installed in community boilers, air pollution can be significantly reduced compared to individual small boilers.
The guidelines mandate the inclusion of community boilers in the development plans of new or upcoming industrial clusters. For existing clusters, a feasibility study needs to be conducted to assess the viability of implementing community boilers.
