Chhattisgarh commissioned Biomass Power and Bagasse Co-Generation projects with a cumulative capacity of 264.90 MW during 2013-14, according to the 2013-14 Annual Report of the Union Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The Biomass Power and Bagasse Co-Generation Programme aims at efficient utilisation of biomass such as agro residue in the form of stalks, stems and straw; agro-industrial residues such as shells, husks, deoiled cakes and wood from dedicated energy plantations for power generation, it stated The potential for power generation from agricultural and agro-industrial residues in the country is estimated at about 17,000 MW.
With progressive higher steam temperature, pressure and efficient project configuration in new sugar mills and modernisation of existing ones, the potential of surplus power generation through bagasse co-generation of sugar mills is estimated at 5,000 MW, the report stated.The potential for bagasse co-generation lies mainly in the nine sugar producing states with a maximum potential of about 1,250 MW each in the states of Maharshatra and Uttar Pradesh. Thus the total estimated biomass power potential in the country is 22,000 MW, it stated.
The programme was launched with the objective of promoting, efficient and economic use of surplus biomass for power generation besides maximizing surplus power generation from sugar mills using improves technologies.This apart, the programme had also been launched for promoting technologies of co-generation and biomass combustion for supplementing conventional power, it stated.
The biomass programme comprises the components of power generation in grid-connected mode and co-generation in sugar mills for export of surplus power to grid.The Centre, as per the report, has set a target of 1900 MW (1400 MW Bagasse Co-Generation besides 500 MW Biomass Power ) for the 12th five year plan against an allocation of Rs310 crore.
The State-wise cumulative capacity of commissioned Biomass Power and Bagasse Co-generation projects during 2013-14 as per the report was as follows–Andhra Pradesh (Before bifurcation) ( 380.75 MW), Bihar (43.42 MW), Chhattisgarh (264.90 MW), Gujarat (43.90 MW), Haryana (45.30 MW), Karnataka (603.28), Madhya Pradesh (26 MW), Maharashtra (940.40), Odisha (20 MW),Punjab (140.50 MW), Rajasthan (101.30), Tamil Nadu 571.30) , Uttarakhand (30 MW), Uttar Pradesh (776.50 MW) and West Bengal (26 MW).