Leveraging Biomass Pellets for Sustainable Power Generation in India

Biomass Pellets

Biomass pellets serve as a promising renewable energy source due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

This article examines the benefits of biomass co-firing, particularly in the context of government efforts to promote its adoption. Additionally, it explores the potential utilization of agro-residues for pellet production.

By analyzing these factors, this article aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of biomass pellets and their role in addressing global energy challenges.

Introduction

The usage of biomass pellets as a viable solution for reducing emissions in coal-based thermal power plants has gained significant attention and policy support.

Coal-fired power plants are major contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions, and the co-firing of biomass pellets along with coal offers a promising avenue to reduce net carbon emissions from these plants.

In India, the Ministry of Power has made co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants mandatory, with increasing proportions over time.

By processing abundant agro-residues into densified pellets with high calorific value, biomass pellets can effectively substitute fossil fuels and contribute to a sustainable energy transition.

This integration of renewable energy sources with conventional power generation aligns with the growing global focus on mitigating climate change and achieving emission reduction targets.

Benefits of Biomass Co-firing

This discussion will focus on the environmental and economic benefits of biomass co-firing.

Biomass co-firing is an effective method for reducing CO2 emissions by substituting coal with carbon neutral biomass, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. Additionally, this practice provides a sustainable solution for agricultural waste residues, as they can be utilized as a source of energy instead of being open burned, which contributes to air pollution.

From an economic perspective, biomass co-firing offers power plants the opportunity to meet environmental regulations without requiring major infrastructure changes, reducing their costs and ensuring compliance. Moreover, it serves as an additional income source for farmers who supply agro-residues for biomass production.

Environmental Benefits

Biomass co-firing in thermal power plants significantly reduces net CO2 emissions, making it an environmentally beneficial alternative to coal. By substituting coal with biomass, the carbon released during biomass combustion is reabsorbed during plant growth, resulting in a carbon-neutral process.

Estimates suggest that replacing 5-7% of coal with biomass pellets in thermal power plants can lead to annual savings of approximately 38 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. This has significant implications for India’s climate change mitigation efforts.

Moreover, biomass co-firing provides a practical solution for agricultural crop residues such as paddy straw and cotton stalks that are typically burned on farms, causing severe air pollution. Consequently, adopting biomass co-firing helps eliminate open field burning of these residues and further contributes to environmental preservation.

Economic Benefits

Co-firing biomass in thermal power plants has the potential to generate additional revenue for farmers and create local employment opportunities. The supply chain involved in biomass pellet production and delivery offers economic benefits, as it creates employment at the pellet manufacturing units and provides additional income to farmers who supply agro-residues as raw material.

This integration of biomass pellets into the existing coal-based power plants allows them to meet renewable energy obligations and environmental regulations without significant modifications in boiler design or infrastructure. Furthermore, estimates suggest that by 2030, biomass pellets could potentially contribute up to 6% of India’s electricity generation.

Thus, the co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants not only brings about environmental advantages but also presents strategic sustainability solutions with substantial economic benefits for local communities.

Government Efforts to Promote Biomass Co-firing

Policy initiatives include the Revised Biomass Policy, which mandates increasing levels of co-firing from 2024 onwards, and financial assistance schemes provided by MNRE and CPCB for pellet units.

Supply chain strengthening efforts involve the inclusion of a biomass procurement category on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, revised long-term biomass supply contracts, and Udyam Aadhaar registration to streamline administrative processes.

These measures aim to support and encourage the adoption of biomass co-firing as part of India’s renewable energy strategy.

Policy Initiatives

The Ministry of Power’s policy measures and financial assistance schemes have been introduced to promote the adoption of biomass co-firing in thermal power plants.

The Revised Biomass Policy, issued in June 2022, mandates power plants to co-fire a minimum of 5% biomass along with coal by fiscal year 2024-25, with this percentage increasing to 7% from fiscal year 2025-26.

These policy initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security by diversifying the fuel mix in the power sector.

In addition, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have implemented financial assistance schemes for biomass pellet manufacturing units. This is intended to increase production capacity and ensure an adequate supply of biomass pellets for co-firing purposes.

These initiatives align with India’s commitments towards sustainable development and renewable energy transition.

Supply Chain Strengthening

Ensuring a robust and reliable supply chain infrastructure is crucial for facilitating the adoption of biomass co-firing technology in India’s coal-based thermal power plants.

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal has created a dedicated procurement category for biomass, which streamlines sourcing by power plants. This initiative aims to ensure consistent delivery of biomass to the power plants through the use of a Revised Model Long-Term Contract formulated by the Ministry of Power.

Additionally, registration on the Udyam Aadhaar portal allows for hassle-free regulatory clearances for biomass enterprises.

These policy initiatives and supply chain strengthening measures are essential in promoting the widespread adoption of biomass co-firing technology across India’s coal-based thermal power plants.

Potential Agro-Residues for Pellet Production

Optimally utilizing surplus rice straw, cotton stalks, soya husk, groundnut shells, bamboo, and horticultural residues as priority agro-residues for biomass pellet production is crucial for ensuring an adequate and sustainable raw material supply for co-firing in thermal power plants.

These agricultural residues are abundant in India and have significant potential for conversion into biomass pellets. Major crop residues such as paddy straw, cotton stalks, jute sticks, soybean husk, and arhar stalks can be utilized for this purpose.

In addition to crop residues, oilseed crops produce energy-dense shells like coconut shells, groundnut shells, and castor seed shells that can also be used as raw materials after processing.

Furthermore, horticultural residues from trimmings and fallen leaves contribute to the biomass stream available in ample quantities across the country’s forests.

Conclusion

To ensure a consistent and sustainable supply of raw materials for co-firing in thermal power plants, prioritizing the utilization of surplus agricultural residues such as rice straw, cotton stalks, and soya husk is crucial.

These residues offer an abundant and affordable source of biomass pellets that can be used for co-firing with coal.

The Indian government has recognized the potential of biomass co-firing and has implemented various policy measures and supply chain interventions to promote its adoption.

These efforts include revising the Biomass Policy to mandate co-firing targets, providing financial incentives for pellet units, and streamlining biomass procurement and contracts.

By effectively utilizing agricultural residues for pellet production, India’s thermal power sector can transition towards carbon neutrality while also creating local livelihood opportunities.

It is important to continue supporting the growth of biomass co-firing to realize its environmental and economic benefits in greening India’s power generation profile.