Delhi-NCR Power Plants Fall Short on Biomass Co-Firing

In August 2024, a new Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report revealed that none of Delhi-NCR’s coal-fired power plants met the mandated biomass co-firing targets by last year.

Key Points

Current Biomass Co-Firing Status: The report shows that none of the 11 coal-fired power plants in Delhi-NCR achieved even 1% biomass co-firing.
Regulatory Directive: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) mandated that these plants co-fire biomass pellets with coal at a ratio of 5 to 10% by December 2023; however, only two plants have managed to reach 2-3% co-firing.
Importance of Co-Firing: Biomass co-firing is vital for reducing air pollution in Delhi, where air quality issues are severe.
Legal Ramifications: Failure to comply with the CAQM's biomass co-firing directive could lead to significant penalties, including fines or imprisonment, as outlined in the CAQM Act.
Decarbonisation Goals: Achieving the biomass co-firing targets is crucial for India to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets for 2030 and its goal of net-zero emissions by 2070.