**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1850, answered on December 11, 2025, regarding the utilization of crop residue stubble in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) in India. It outlines the Government's initiatives to encourage farmers to process stubble for biogas and thermal power plants, including financial assistance schemes managed by various ministries. The Biomass Programme was notified on November 2, 2022.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Current Utilization:**
* Biogas from crop residue stubble is not currently utilized in TPPs.
* Biomass pellets made from crop residue are co-fired with coal in TPPs.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Government encourages farmers to process stubble for biogas and thermal power plants.
* The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) implements the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bio-Energy Programme.
* MNRE supports the establishment of Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects and biomass-based briquette/pellet manufacturing units.
* The scheme provides financial assistance for:
* Briquette manufacturing plants (Rs. 09.00 Lakh per MTPH, max Rs. 45 Lakh/project).
* Non-Torrefied Pellet manufacturing plant (Rs. 21 Lakhs per MTPH or 30% of capital cost, max Rs. 105 Lakhs/project).
* Torrefied Pellet manufacturing plant (Rs. 42 lakhs/ MTPH or 30% of capital cost for 1 TPH plant, max Rs. 210 lakhs/project).
* Biogas generation (Rs 0.25 Crore per 12000 cum/ day, max Rs. 5.00 Crores/project).
* Bio-CNG generation (Rs 4.0 Crore per 4800 kg/day for new biogas plant; Rs 3.0 Crore per 4800 kg/day for existing biogas plant, max Rs. 10.00 Crores/project).
* Power generation based on Biogas (Rs 0.75 Crore per MW for new biogas plant; Rs 0.5 Crore per MW for existing Biogas plant, max Rs. 5.00 Crores/project).
* Other Government efforts:
* MNRE supports biogas plants and biomass-based briquette/pellet under the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP).
* Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Galvanizing Organic Bio-Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) to convert waste into biogas and manure.
* Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) provides assistance to Bio-gas producers for procurement of Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM).
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides support for palletization and Torrefaction plants in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
* Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) provides subsidy for crop residue management machinery and supply chains.
* Ministry of Power has a policy for co-firing biomass pellets in coal-based TPPs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to process stubble instead of burning, potentially generating income by supplying biogas and biomass pellets.
* **Action Required:** Explore and participate in the government schemes to establish biogas or pellet manufacturing units or to supply stubble.
**Biogas and Biomass Pellet Producers**
* **Impact:** Potential beneficiaries of financial assistance and a supportive policy environment to establish and operate biogas and biomass pellet production facilities.
* **Action Required:** Apply for financial assistance under the Biomass Programme and other relevant schemes, and adhere to the guidelines for establishing and operating production units.
**Thermal Power Plants (TPPs)**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to co-fire biomass pellets with coal, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and creating demand for biomass pellets.
* **Action Required:** Implement the policy for co-firing of biomass pellets in coal-based TPPs and procure biomass pellets from established suppliers.
**Environment**
* **Impact:** Reduced stubble burning and air pollution through the utilization of crop residue for biogas and biomass production.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the effectiveness of government initiatives in reducing stubble burning and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
**General Public**
* **Impact:** Benefits from cleaner air, reduced pollution, and the promotion of renewable energy sources.
* **Action Required:** Support government initiatives to reduce stubble burning and promote sustainable waste management practices.
Key Entities Referenced
National Bio-Energy Programme: A program implemented by MNRE to support the establishment of Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects and biomass-based briquette/ pellet manufacturing units.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE): The ministry implementing the Biomass Programme and supporting the installation of biogas plants and biomass-based briquette/pellet units.
Thermal Power Plants (TPPs): Entities where biomass pellets are co-fired with coal.
Biomass Programme: A scheme offering financial assistance for establishing briquette manufacturing plants, waste-to-energy programs, and bio-CNG generation facilities.
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan: States and territories where the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) supports pelletization and torrefaction plants to utilize paddy straw.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1850
ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025
USE OF STUBBLE IN TPPS
†1850. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) the quantity of biogas from crop residue stubble (in tonnes) being utilized by
various Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) in the country, thermal power plant-wise and
tonnage-wise;
(b) whether the Government proposes to encourage farmers who are not burning
stubble and are processing it to send it to biogas/thermal power plants;
(c) if so, the details thereof in Maharashtra and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government proposes to encourage stubble processing plants; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a): Biogas from crop residue stubble is not being utilized in Thermal Power Plants
(TPPs) in the country. However, biomass pellets made from crop residue are being co-
fired along with coal in TPPs.
(b) & (c): Yes, the Government has been encouraging farmers, who are not burning
stubble and are instead processing it, to supply it to biogas and thermal power plants.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing the Biomass
Programme under Phase-I of the National Bio-Energy Programme, notified on 02.11.2022,
to support the establishment of Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects and biomass-based
briquette/ pellet manufacturing units across the country, including Maharashtra. The
scheme provides financial assistance as:
A. Biomass Programme:
I. For Briquette manufacturing plants: Rs. 09.00 Lakh per Metric Ton per Hour
(MTPH) production capacity (subject to maximum Rs. 45 Lakh per project).II. For Non-Torrefied Pellet manufacturing plant:
Rs. 21 Lakhs per MTPH production capacity or 30% of the capital cost,
whichever is lower (subject to maximum Rs. 105 Lakhs per project).
III. For Torrefied Pellet manufacturing plant:
Rs. 42 lakhs/ MTPH production capacity or 30% of the capital cost
considered for plant and machinery of 1 TPH plant, whichever is lower
(Maximum Rs. 210 lakhs per project)
B. Waste to Energy Programme:
I. Biogas generation: Rs 0.25 Crore per 12000 cum/ day (subject to maximum
of Rs. 5.00 Crores per project).
II. Bio-CNG generation:
- Rs 4.0 Crore per 4800 kg/day (for BioCNG generation from new biogas
plant)
- Rs 3.0 Crore per 4800 kg/day (for BioCNG generation from existing
Biogas plant) (subject to maximum of Rs. 10.00 Crores per project)
III. Power generation based on Biogas:
- Rs 0.75 Crore per MW (for power generation from new biogas plant)
- Rs 0.5 Crore per MW (for power generation from existing Biogas plant)
[Maximum of Rs. 5.00 Crores per project].
(d) & (e): The efforts being made by Government of India to encourage stubble
processing plants by implementing the following schemes/ programmes.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) supports installation of
small, medium and large size biogas plants and biomass-based briquette/
pellet under National Bioenergy Programme (NBP).
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
launched Galvanizing Organic Bio-Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) under
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Scheme (SBM(G)) to ensure cleanliness
in villages by converting biodegradable waste into biogas and organic
manure.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has launched a scheme to
provide financial assistance to Compressed Bio-gas producers for
procurement of Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM).
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has framed Guidelines for grant of
one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge funds for
establishment of palletization and Torrefaction plants to promote
utilization of paddy straw generated in the NCT of Delhi, States of Punjab
& Haryana, and NCR districts of Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in 2018 launched
scheme for providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management
machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of
Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for in-situ
management of paddy straw. MoA&FW in 2023 revised guidelines under the
scheme to support establishment of crop residue/ paddy straw supply
chain, by providing financial assistance on the capital cost of machinery
and equipment.
Ministry of Power issued a comprehensive policy for co-firing of biomass
pellets (including Torrefied Charcoal made from Municipal Solid Wastes) in
coal based Thermal Power Plants. This policy facilitates the utilization of
crop residue (biomass) for power generation and creates significant
demand for biomass pellets, thereby encouraging the establishment of
palletisation and torrefaction plants across the country.
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