National Mission on Biomass Use in Coal-Based Power Plants Established

To prevent air pollution due to the burning of farm stubble and reduce the carbon footprint of thermal power plants, the Ministry of Power has decided to set up a National Mission on the use of Biomass. This would further support the country’s target to move towards cleaner energy sources. The mission will work towards increasing the level of co-firing from the present 5 per cent to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon-neutral power generation, take up R&D activity in boiler design, facilitate overcoming the constraints in the supply chain of biomass pellets and agro-residue and their transportation to power plants and consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing. The modalities related to the mission’s operationalisation and structure are currently being finalised.