Govt temporarily eases mandate on biomass pellet co-firing in ...The government's policy for biomass pellets primarily involves mandatory co-firing in coal-based power plants to reduce reliance on coal and agricultural stubble burning. The policy mandates that thermal power plants must use a blend of 5% biomass pellets, increasing to 7% after two years, and has established financial and operational support mechanisms, including priority sector lending and the SAMARTH mission.
SAMARTH mission: The National Mission on use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) was set up by the Ministry of Power to address air pollution from farm stubble burning and reduce carbon footprints.
CEA : The government policy on biomass pellet co-firing in thermal power plants is outlined in documents from the Ministry of Power, with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) playing a key role in issuing specifications and technical assistance. The policy mandates a 5% biomass pellet blend with coal for all coal-based thermal power plants starting from FY 2024-25, with an increase to 7% from FY 2025-26. This includes specific requirements for different types of mills and a push for long-term procurement contracts.