Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates Biomass Pellet Plant in Rewari

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi inaugurated a 240 TPD biomass pellet plant in Rewari, Haryana. He said the development represents a key advancement in the State’s clean energy efforts and reflects Haryana’s growing contribution to India’s renewable energy sector.

New Policy Mandates Biomass and MSW Charcoal Co-firing in Thermal Plants

The Minister stated that the Government of India has introduced a policy requiring coal-based thermal power plants to co-fire biomass pellets or torrefied municipal solid waste charcoal. As per the policy, plants across the country must co-fire 5 percent biomass or MSW charcoal by weight, while units in the Delhi-NCR region will operate with a 7 percent blend.

He said that for NCR-based units, at least half of the biomass will be procured from local paddy residue and stubble to ensure sustainable supply and to address the issue of stubble burning. He added that the Government is strengthening source segregation and regulatory oversight to support the ecosystem for MSW-derived charcoal due to challenges associated with wet and unsegregated waste.

Pellet Plant to Support Clean Fuel and Rural Livelihoods

Discussing the newly inaugurated facility, the Minister said the plant will utilise agricultural residues such as paddy straw, mustard straw and cotton stalks to produce biomass pellets for co-firing in thermal plants. He said this will help reduce pollution and carbon emissions while creating livelihood opportunities in rural areas and offering farmers an additional source of income. He described the project as aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a sustainable and energy-secure future.

He noted that major infrastructure and clean fuel initiatives are shaping Haryana’s development path. He said India has nearly doubled its electricity generation capacity over the past decade and has become a power-exporting nation, with Haryana gaining substantially from this growth. With over 12 GW already established, the State is moving toward a capacity of 24 GW.

Rooftop Solar and Solar Pump Expansion Strengthen Haryana’s Renewable Energy Progress

The Minister highlighted that Haryana has installed more than 2.8 GW of renewable energy capacity, including 2.4 GW of solar power. He said more than 2 lakh households have applied under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and over 45,000 households have installed rooftop solar systems, resulting