Government targets additional 1700 MW biomass co-generation by 2012
07 Dec 2007
The 11th plan has set a target for an additional 1,700 MW power generation capacity, consisting of 500 MW of biomass projects and 1,200 MW of bagasse cogeneration projects by 2012, minister of state in the ministry of new and renewable energy Vilas Muttemwar said.
The country has a cumulative biomass power potential of about 18,000 MWe from surplus agricultural residues as estimated by the National Biomass Resource Atlas prepared by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, he said.
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are having potential for setting up biomass based power projects of 100 MW or above, the minister said.
The biomass power potential in the identified districts of the states ranges from 10 MW to 100 MW. Sugar mills having cane crushing capacity of 2,500 tonnes per day in the states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana have an estimated potential of about 5,000 MW surplus power generation through optimum bagasse based cogeneration, the minister said.
The government is providing incentives for setting up of power generation projects based on biomass and bagasse cogeneration in the form of capital subsidy and fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, relief from taxes and duties, term loans from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).
This apart, policies have been introduced in potential states for wheeling, banking and buy-back of electricity generated from commercial biomass power and bagasse cogeneration projects, the minister pointed out.
