71 thermal power plants across India now co-fire biomass, says CAQM – Bioenergy Insight

 

Report on Biomass Co-firing in Indian Thermal Power Plants and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing Clean Energy and Climate Action

A report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) confirms that 71 thermal power plants in India have integrated biomass co-firing, a critical step towards achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This practice involves blending agricultural residues with coal, directly reducing carbon emissions and mitigating air pollution from stubble burning, which supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Policy Framework and Regulatory Mandates

The Government of India has established a clear policy to mainstream this sustainable practice.

• Mandatory Co-firing: The Ministry of Power mandated from October 2021 that all coal-based thermal plants must co-fire a minimum of five per cent unmixed biomass.
• Future Targets: There is a strategic plan to increase this mandatory blending requirement to seven per cent by the 2025–26 period, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to its climate targets under SDG 13.

Progress, Achievements, and SDG Impact

Emission Reductions and Resource Utilisation

The adoption of co-firing has yielded significant environmental benefits, directly contributing to key SDGs.

1. Growth in Adoption: The number of participating plants increased from 47 in mid-2023 to 71, indicating growing momentum.
2. Waste-to-Energy Conversion: The utilisation of 814,000 tonnes of biomass, primarily agricultural residue, exemplifies progress towards SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by creating value from waste streams.
3. Climate Action (SDG 13): This initiative has successfully prevented an estimated 0.97 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, demonstrating a tangible impact on climate change mitigation.

Implementation Challenges and Barriers to SDG Attainment

Despite progress, several obstacles hinder the full realisation of the program’s potential and its associated SDG benefits.

• Supply Chain Deficiencies: Limited biomass pellet manufacturing capacity and logistical constraints impede a consistent and reliable supply chain, affecting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by limiting the growth of a rural bio-economy.
• Technical and Operational Hurdles: Some power facilities face technical barriers to maintaining the mandated fuel mix, slowing progress towards SDG 7.
• Regional Disparities: Implementation remains inconsistent, with regions like Delhi-NCR reporting biomass shares below one per cent and intermittent operations, which limits local gains in air quality as envisioned under SDG 11.

Strategic Interventions and Future Outlook

Government Support and Technological Innovation

To overcome these challenges, the government has launched targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening the biomass ecosystem.

• The SAMARTH Scheme: This initiative provides comprehensive support for the use of agro-residue in thermal plants, fostering rural economic opportunities in line with SDG 8.
• Financial and Logistical Support: Measures include funding for pellet manufacturing facilities, the creation of approved vendor lists, and facilitating long-term supply agreements to stabilise the market.
• Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9): Pilot projects by industry leaders like NTPC are pushing technological boundaries, demonstrating the feasibility of co-firing rates up to 20 per cent with torrefied biomass. This indicates significant potential for scaling up the program and deepening its contribution to India’s Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The article focuses on modifying energy production in thermal power plants to make it cleaner. The practice of co-firing biomass, a renewable resource, with coal directly contributes to increasing the share of clean energy in the national energy mix.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The initiative aims to tackle “stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution,” which severely impacts the air quality in urban areas, particularly in regions like Delhi-NCR mentioned in the article.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Co-firing utilizes “agricultural residues such as paddy straw and crop by-products.” This promotes a circular economy model by turning agricultural waste into a valuable resource for energy production, thereby reducing waste.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• A primary goal of biomass co-firing is “reducing carbon emissions.” The article quantifies this impact, stating that the practice “had prevented close to 0.97 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions,” directly addressing climate change mitigation.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article highlights the collaborative efforts between government bodies like the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Ministry of Power. It also mentions the SAMARTH scheme, which facilitates public-private partnerships by supporting pellet manufacturing and creating supply agreements.

Specific Targets Identified

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article details a mandatory policy for coal plants to “co-fire at least five per cent unmixed biomass,” with plans to increase this to “seven per cent by 2025–26,” directly increasing the share of renewable biomass in energy generation.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article states that co-firing helps “tackle stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution,” which is a critical issue for air quality in cities.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The program is built on using “agricultural residues such as paddy straw and crop by-products,” effectively reusing waste that would otherwise be burned or discarded.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The mandatory co-firing policy issued by the “Ministry of Power” is a direct example of a national strategy to integrate climate mitigation measures into the energy sector’s operations.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article mentions government measures like the “SAMARTH scheme,” which supports private sector involvement through “funding for pellet manufacturing and the creation of vendor listings and long-term supply agreements,” exemplifying a public-private partnership model.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

For Target 7.2 (Increase renewable energy share)

• Indicator: Percentage of biomass in the fuel mix. The article provides specific figures, such as the mandatory “five per cent” and future “seven per cent” targets, while also noting that in some regions, the share “has often remained below one per cent.”

For Target 11.6 (Improve air quality)

• Indicator (Implied): Reduction in stubble burning incidents. The article identifies co-firing as a solution to “tackle stubble burning,” implying that a decrease in this practice would be a measure of success.

For Target 12.5 (Reduce waste)

• Indicator: Quantity of agricultural residue utilized. The article quantifies this by stating that “814,000 tonnes of biomass” have been used, measuring the amount of waste diverted into energy production.

For Target 13.2 (Integrate climate measures)

• Indicator: Tonnes of CO₂ emissions prevented. The article provides a direct measurement of climate impact, stating that co-firing “had prevented close to 0.97 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.”
• Indicator: Number of participating facilities. The article tracks the adoption of the policy by noting the increase from “47 plants” to “71 thermal power plants.”

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.	Percentage of biomass co-fired in thermal plants (e.g., 5% mandate).
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.	Reduction in stubble burning (implied).
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.	Quantity of agricultural residue utilized (e.g., 814,000 tonnes).
SDG 13: Climate Action	13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.	Tonnes of CO₂ emissions prevented (e.g., 0.97 million tonnes).
		Number of thermal power plants adopting co-firing (e.g., 71 plants).
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	Implementation of partnership schemes like SAMARTH to support the biomass supply chain.

Source: bioenergy-news.com