Thermal power plants in NCR to target at least 5% co-firing of biomass pellets with coal by Sept 30: CAQM

New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has directed all Captive Thermal Power Plants (CTPPs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) to initiate immediate steps to co-fire biomass-based pellets (with focus on paddy straw utilisation) with coal, said the ministry in a statement. Further, it added that the power plants should target at least five percent co-firing of biomass pellets by September 30 and at least 10 percent co-firing by December 31.

"These CTPPs have been directed by the commission to strictly comply with the standards of emissions, at all times and with immediate effect, as stipulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change," the statement added. "The CTTPs have to submit their first action taken report by September 30," it said.

CTTPs to submit first action reports by Sept 30

The commission also warned that the CTTPs will be liable for action if the first action reports are not submitted by September 30, said the statement.

Earlier, in 2021, the Commission had mandated identified 11 TPPs located within 300 kilometres of Delhi to co-fire biomass pellets with coal in proportion up to 5-10 percent.

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