SAMARTH & NTPC Organizes a Workshop on Biomass Utilisation in Thermal Power Plants

A one-day workshop on ex-situ usage of agricultural waste for co-firing in thermal power plants was held today in Chandigarh as a result of a partnership between the National Mission on the Utilization of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) and the National Thermal Power Corporation.

The Government, Ministries, CAQM, MoEFCC, Ministry of Agriculture & farmer welfare, MNRE, Department of Environment & Climate Change-Punjab, Department of Power-Punjab, Department of Agriculture-Punjab, Department of Science & Technology-Punjab, Department of Environment & Climate Change-Haryana, Department of Agriculture-Haryana,  Department of Energy-Haryana, SAMARTH Mission, NTPC Ltd, all GENCOs from NCR region, Financial Institutions, Pellet manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, Industries associations, OEMs, Agriculture Universities, KVKs, FPOs, CBBOs and Farmer organizations participated in the workshop.

The one-day workshop's objectives were to encourage and facilitate the ex-situ exploitation of agricultural waste in a variety of applications, with a particular emphasis on creating an eco-system for the collection, distribution, production, and co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants. The workshop was planned in a region with a lot of potentials in order to talk with interested parties about how to tackle the problems that are preventing the expansion of biomass aggregation and pellet production.

The National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants' Mission Director, Shri Sudip Nag (Executive Director, NTPC Ltd.), opened the workshop with a welcome statement outlining the significance of biomass in achieving India's fuel energy security. The potential of biomass was underlined by Shri Ramesh Babu, Director (Operations), NTPC Ltd., as an underutilized resource, supplementary source of revenue, an industry with strong demand, and supportive government policies. NTPC has taken a number of measures to use biomass in TPPs, and he said that 14 of its plants have already begun co-firing; to date, about 77,000 tonnes of biomass have been co-fired.

Dr. M.M. Kutty, the chair of CAQM, spoke on the pressing problem of air pollution, particularly in the NCR region, and its difficulties. He provided information on various applications for biomass, the National Policy for the Management of Crop Residue, the Central Scheme for Agricultural Mechanization, the Policy for the Utilization of Biomass for Power Generation through Co-Firing in Thermal Power Plants, and also provided guidance on how the Agricultural Sector can step up & contribute to control the pollution by converting Stubble waste to wealth using Scientific & Technological solutions.

Nine exhibition booths were also set up in the workshop space to show off various technical and financial aspects by business owners, banking institutions, original equipment manufacturers, and SAMARTH Mission. All of the senior officials present at the session expressed their appreciation for the exhibition booths.

The Workshop on Ex-situ Utilization of Agricultural Residue in Thermal Power Plants was one of the largest bioenergy conferences with more than 250 registered participants from Government, Ministries, CAQM, MoEFCC, MoA&FW, MNRE, senior government officials from Punjab and Haryana, NTPC Ltd, all GENCOs from NCR region, Financial Institutions, Pellet manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, Industries associations, OEMs, Agriculture Universities, KVKs, FPOs, CB Many businesses, aspiring business owners, and farmers attended the workshop to learn about and explore new business options.

 The workshop not only addressed the problem of burning stubble but also offered a perfect forum for all parties involved to exchange information and expertise for the profitable use of agricultural waste.