In the backdrop of acute power shortage in Haryana, private players are pushing ahead biomass-based power projects. With thermal power projects shut down due to technical reasons and inadequate coal supply, independent power producers are taking up biomass power projects mainly based on waste of agriculture and distillery.
Biomass based projects that were hanging fire are being pursued hard by private players as the thermal projects in the state are facing shutdown due to technical reasons and non availability of coal. The state government has lately signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four private players for setting up of five biomass power projects of 51 MW capacity with an investment of Rs 230 crore.
Out of these, two projects are likely to be soon commissioned. Haryana known for wheat, paddy, mustard and cotton generate 8.4 million tonnes of biomass annually. A study by Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) puts the power generation from paddy waste at 612 MW while wheat straws could generate around 157 MW of power.
