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Blog / 16 Sep 2020

(Daily News Scan - DNS English) Biomass Power From Paddy Stubble

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(Daily News Scan - DNS English) Biomass Power From Paddy Stubble


The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) along with the science and the technology department, is working on to create alternative uses of the stubble utilisation. Punjab Energy Development Agency was formed in Sept. 1991 as a state nodal agency for promotion and development of Renewable Energy Programmes/ Projects and energy conservation programme in the state of Punjab. Stubble burning is troubling the Punjab Government, a reset of priorities and out-of-the-box thinking can lead to effective solutions for this issue.

In today’s DNS we will discuss the steps taken by PEDA in this issue, what are the other field where stubble is being used and lastly we will know the need of the hour.

PEDA is working towards promotion and development of renewable energy for the past three decades. It has set up 11 biomass power plants where 97.50 megawatts (MW) of power is generated.

In these plants, 8.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble, which is less than 5 per cent of the total 20 million tonnes paddy stubble generated in Punjab, is used annually to generate power. Most of these plants are 4-18 MW and are consuming 36,000 to 1, 62,000 metric tonnes stubble annually.

Two other biomass power projects with 14 MW capacity are under execution and will be commissioned from June 2021. These projects are environmental friendly as they emit relatively lower CO2 and particulate and displace fossil fuels such as coal.

Apart from Bio mass projects, eight projects of BIO-CNG are under execution in the state. Most of these projects will be commissioned in 2021 and 2022. Also these projects will require around 3-lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.

There are also plans to setup India’s largest CNG Project. This will produce 8,000 m cube biogas per day. The project is under execution at Lehragaga tehsil in Sangrur district. This single project will require 1.10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy straw per annum.

A Bioethanol project of 100 KL (kilo litre), which will require 2 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually is located at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda. It is currently at a standstill as it has been held up by HPCL due to technical issues with the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. As per the expert’s ethanol can be used to run vehicles after blending with diesel and petrol.

Benefits of these projects –

  • After commissioning these projects, Punjab will be able to utilise 1.5 million tonnes (7 per cent of the total) paddy stubble.
  • Farmers will also be benefitted. They can opt to sell paddy stubble to the industry instead of burning it.
  • Environmental benefits - fertile soil will be saved from burning every year. Organic matters present in the soil will be saved from burning.
  • Pollution generated due to the burning of stubble will also be reduced.
  • Job opportunities for educated youth.
  • Entrepreneurship – youth from science and technology background can start their own projects concerning this field and create employment opportunities.

What is the need of the hour?

Punjab needs more number of stubble-based industry, where more and more stubble is required. The current usage of stubble is very less compared to the generation of stubble.

The youth, specifically engineers, graduates in science and technology can be encouraged to start such projects under the ‘start-up’ concept, which will create entrepreneurship among them. Plus the government must help them by getting sanctioned loans and providing a market, for which there is plenty of scope.

Joint efforts are required on the part of the state, Centre and industries, including public and private participation, to convert all of Punjab’s stubble into farmers’ income.

Also stubble-based projects can be set up at the block-level to manage stubble of that particular block.