Why in news? Recently, Ministry of Power revised the policy on biomass thus obligating the thermal power plants to increase the use of biomass pellets.
The significance of biomass in a circular economy
What are biomass pellets?
- Biomass pellets are any materials can burn.
- It includes
- Agricultural waste such as crop stalk and straw material, rice husk, cotton stalk, coffee husk, alfalfa straw, coconut shell, palm shell, sugarcane bagasse.
- Forestry residue such as sawmill residue, branches, bark, leaves.
- Solid waste such as junk paper, waste plastic, cardboard.
What is the Biomass Co-firing Policy about?
- Biomass co-firing is a method for efficiently and cleanly converting biomass to electricity by adding biomass as a partial substitute fuel in high-efficiency coal boilers.
Biomass Co-firing Policy
- Aim -To meet India’s renewable energy targets and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
- Revised policy 2021 -Mandates the use of 5% biomass pellets made primarily of agro-residue along with coal in thermal power plants with effect from 1 year from the date of issue of the policy.
- Thermal power plants shall increase the usage to 7% with effect from 2 years after the date of issuance of this policy.
- Cutting coal supply -Government is considering cutting coal supply for those thermal power plants that do not comply with the policy on biomass co-firing.
What is the significance of biomass?
- Enable generation of green electricity
- Cut down coal consumption
- Create employment
- Reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution
- Help in achieving India’s global commitment towards 45% emission reduction by 2023
- Cheaper than imported coal and reduce stubble burning
- Economic alternative for all thermal power plants
What are the challenges in using biomass?
- Providing a single window for clearances
- Lack of steady and consistent supply of biomass
- Varied availability and quality of biomass across India
- Difficult to store since they attract moisture
- Lack of infrastructure in transport and storage of biomass
- The process to retrofitted biomass co-firing equipment is expensive
- Lack of market for biomass pellets
What measures were taken for promotion of biomass in power plants?
- Pellet manufacturing sector -Being encouraged to bridge the demand-supply gap of biomass pellets.
- Financial assistance schemes -For biomass pellet manufacturing units from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Central Pollution Control Board.
- Priority Sector Lending (PSL) -Biomass pellet manufacturing have been included in the priority sector lending.
- E-Marketplace – The biomass pellets can be procured through the government e-Marketplace by the thermal power plants.
- SAMARTH (Sustainable Agrarian Mission on use of Agro Residue in Thermal Power Plants) -Provides for co-firing of biomass waste in Thermal Power Plants.
- Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022 -Specifies that all thermal power plants will have to use renewable fuel sources either as energy or feedstock.
What is the need of the hour?
- Robust regulatory framework that offers incentives and support for biomass co-firing.
- Creation of competitive market for biomass in order to ensure equitable pricing and distribution.
- A framework to support inter-ministerial coordination.
- The Biomass Co-firing Policy needs to be backed by a strong policy and regulatory framework that provides incentives and support for biomass co-firing.
The significance of biomass in a circular economy
