Ministry of Power decides to set up a National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants

GG News Bureau 
New Delhi, 25th May. To address the issue of air pollution due to farm stubble burning and to reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generation, Ministry of Power has decided to set up a National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants. This would further support the energy transition in the country and our targets to move towards cleaner energy sources.
The “National Mission on use of biomass in thermal power plants” will have to increase the level of co-firing from present 5% to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon neutral power generation from the thermal power plants. It will have to take up R&D activity in boiler design to handle the higher amount of silica, alkalis in the biomass pellets. It will have to facilitate overcoming the constraints in supply chain of biomass pellets and agro- residue and its transport up to the power plants and it will have to consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing.
The modalities of operation and structure of the Nation Mission are under finalisation. It is being envisaged that the Mission would have a Steering Committee headed by Secretary (Power) comprising of all stakeholders including representatives from Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) etc. The Executive Committee would be headed by Member (Thermal), CEA. NTPC will play a larger role in providing logistic and infrastructure support in the proposed National Mission. The Mission would have full time officers from CEA, NTPC, DVC and NLC or other participating organizations. The duration of proposed National Mission would be a minimum 5 years. The proposed National Mission on biomass will also contribute in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).