Question : Burning of Farm Stubble

(a) whether a large number of farmers particularly from Punjab and Haryana are burning the farm stubble/straw in the absence of viable alternatives, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Union Government has implemented plan for mixing of farm stubble pellets up to 10% of the total fuel in a power plant, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether State-run NTPC would float a tender to buy farm stubble at Rs. 5,500 per tonne for power plants to restrict farmers from burning, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether mixing of farm stubble pellets will affect the efficiency in terms of gross calorific value, if so, the extent to which it will affect the efficiency;

(e) whether the NTPC has completed test runs, if so, the details and present status thereof;

(f) whether the NTPC has planned to expand scheme of mixing of farm stubble pellets gradually in its all plants, if so, the details thereof; and

(g) whether the use of farm stubble in power plants will increase the power generation cost and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER
AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) : Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed that they receive information from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) and Haryana Space Applications Centre, Hisar about active fire incidence counts in Punjab and Haryana respectively. In Punjab 43686 and 49905 active fire incidences were reported in 2017 and 2018 respectively while in Haryana 12564 and 10192 incidences were reported in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

(b) : An advisory dated 24.11.2017 was issued by Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power regarding utilization of 5-10% agro residue based pellets along with coal in coal fired power plant through biomass co-firing. NTPC has test fired up to 10% biomass pellets along with coal at its NTPC Dadri plant.

However, there is not enough infrastructure for collection and processing of agro residue to pellets. This advisory shall create a large market for agro residue based pellets in power sector. NTPC has already placed an order for supply of 200 Tonnes per day of agro residue based pellets/torrefied pellets for NTPC Dadri plant.

Further, NTPC has invited expression of interest from interested parties for production and supply of paddy straw and agro residue based pellets/torrefied pellets to all the power plants of NTPC.

(c) : NTPC has invited expression of interest (EOI) dated 26.12.2018 from interested parties for production and supply of paddy straw and agro residue based pellets/torrefied pellets to all the power plants of NTPC.

Based on response received in EOI, tender shall be floated. In NTPC’s earlier tender, the ceiling price of Rs. 5500 per tonne failed to attract more investors in this sector and will be done away with in future tenders and price shall be discovered through competitive bidding.

(d) : Biomass test firing in Dadri was for short duration of time. To establish effect on efficiency, prolonged biomass co-firing is required which is going to start in Dadri soon. Conclusive data regarding effect on efficiency will be available once bio-mass co-firing is done on prolonged basis.

(e) : Test run was conducted in Dadri from September 2017 onwards with 100 Metric tonnes of biomass pellets after making suitable modification in one unit of 200 MW. Now, NTPC is moving forward to start commercial scale biomass co-firing for which a purchase order for 200 metric tonnes per day of pellets/ torrefied pellets has already been placed. Delivery of 20 metric tonnes per day material has been started and rest is likely to start soon.

(f) : NTPC has invited expression of interest (EOI) dated 26.12.2018 from interested parties for production and supply of paddy straw and other agro residue based pellets/ torrefied pellets to all the power plants of NTPC. Based on the response received in EOI, tender shall be floated.

(g) : Use of farm stubble based pellets/ torrefied pellets in power plants will increase the generation cost. The increase in variable charge of electricity shall depend upon difference of price between biomass and coal and thus it shall be different for different plants (price of agro residue based biomass pellets/ torrefied biomass pellets/briquettes will be discovered through tender). In addition to this, there shall be a slight increase in fixed charge due to additional capital expenditure required for biomass material handling infrastructure.

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