- NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power producer and a PSU under Ministry of Power, has invited bids for procurement of biomass pellets for its various thermal plants
- On the basis of Domestic Competitive Basis (DCB) as part of its endeavour to reduce burning of crop residue on farmlands that cause air pollution.
- It had first undertaken this unique initiative on pilot basis in 2017 for biomass co-firing by replacing some of the coal with pellet based fuel.
- Co-firing will help create large scale rural employment opportunities in processing as well as supply chain for biomass.
- The power producer will give preference to bids from suppliers from Punjab and Haryana.
- Open burning of agro residue is considered a major contributor to the surge in PM 2.5 in Northern India in post-harvesting season.
- The pellets made out of stubble and husk would be utilised at its 17 thermal coal-fired power plants across the country as part of measures to reduce stubble burning.