CPCB intends to give subsidies for production of pellets for green fuel

11 Oct 2022 CW Team

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed a plan to subsidise manufacturers in an effort to encourage the production of biomass pellets or briquettes for use in co-firing with coal in thermal power plants or even independently in industrial units using fossil fuel.

To encourage the production of pellets, the CPCB planned to provide producers in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi with a fund worth Rs 500 million as a subsidy. The Electricity Ministry has previously recommended using 5% to 10% biomass as co-firing in coal-fired thermal power facilities.

However, little progress could be made because there aren't many pellet producers, and power plants don't like using biomass as fuel because there isn't enough of it. Pellet production is promoted given the situation.

The initiative seeks to address the issue of crop residue burning, particularly after rice harvesting at the beginning of winter, when the National Capital Region's (NCR) air quality deteriorates. To reduce pollution, the central government seeks to encourage the usage of green fuel.

After paddy harvesting, these states produce over 30 million tonne of crop residue, with 19 million tonne coming from Punjab. This is burned in the fields to nearly half.

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