To address the issue of air pollution due to farm stubble-burning and to reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generation, the Ministry of Power has decided to set up a National Mission on the use of Biomass in coal-based thermal power plants. This would further support the energy transition in the country and our targets to move towards cleaner energy sources.

The "National Mission on use of biomass in thermal power plants" will work towards increasing the level of co-firing from the present 5 percent to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon-neutral power generation from the thermal power plants. It will also take up R&D activity in boiler design to handle the higher amount of silica, alkalis in the biomass pellets. The new initiatives also aim to facilitate overcoming the constraints in the supply chain of biomass pellets and agro- residue and its transport up to to the power plants.

The modalities of operation and structure of the nation mission are under finalization. It is being envisaged that the mission would have a steering committee headed by secretary (power) comprising of all stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) etc. The Executive Committee would be headed by Member (Thermal), CEA. NTPC will play a larger role in providing logistic and infrastructure support in the proposed National Mission. The Mission would have full-time officers from CEA, NTPC, DVC and NLC or other participating organizations. The duration of the proposed National Mission would be a minimum of five years.