New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has resolved to establish facilities for the production of biomass briquettes and pellets, combating the persistent predicament of pollution stemming from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. A representative from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy elucidated that MNRE’s biomass initiative endeavors to bolster the inception of manufacturing plants for biomass briquettes and pellets, concurrently supporting cogeneration projects reliant on biomass (excluding bagasse) in various industrial sectors nationwide.
“The overarching aims of the initiative are to curtail stubble burning by harnessing surplus agricultural residue, augmenting farmers’ income through the sale of excess agro residue, and fostering eco-friendly practices to mitigate pollution,” articulated the official. MNRE will extend central financial aid to project developers, alongside service charges for implementing and inspection agencies involved in establishing briquette and pellet manufacturing plants and biomass (non-bagasse) cogeneration projects in industries.
It is estimated that approximately 22 million tonnes of paddy straw succumbs to combustion in Punjab and Haryana annually. “In recent years, Delhi and the NCR regions have grappled with substantial pollution levels, shrouded under the veil of smog during the October-November period following the harvest season,” the official noted. Stubble burning emanates copious amounts of ash, soot, and unburnt carbon into the atmosphere, constituting the primary catalyst for air pollution, elevating Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 levels.
Farmers resort to stubble burning for its cost-effectiveness, expediency, and ease in preparing land for subsequent crops within the limited timeframe. Furthermore, stubble burning diminishes soil fertility by eradicating critical bacterial and fungal populations. Agro residue, a formidable but untapped resource, approximates a staggering 250 million metric tonnes (MMT) annually.
The official emphasized that the utilization of agro residue-based fuel, presented as pellets, in coal-fired power plants ensures complete combustion within the plant, with emitted ash absorbed by an ElectroStatic Precipitator (ESP), thus averting air pollution while generating power. “A majority of India’s power plants operate on coal. To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from these coal-based thermal power plants, incorporating agro residue-based pellets and torrefied pellets, in tandem with coal for power generation through biomass co-firing, emerges as a UNFCCC-recognized technology to alleviate carbon emissions,” the official added.
Additionally, the Ministry of Power spearheads the implementation of the National Mission titled SAMARTH (Sustainable Agrarian Mission on Use of Agri Residue in Thermal Power Plant) Mission, aimed at integrating biomass into coal-based thermal power plants. “The Mission Directorate, a dedicated body overseeing policy implementation and mission targets, ensures the continuity of the proposed National Mission over a minimum period of five years,” elucidated the official.