New Delhi, May 9 (Agency) State-owned power major NTPC today said it has successfully demonstrated Co-firing of 20wt per cent Torrefied Biomass at its Unit at Tanda in UP, thereby marking a significant stride towards building a sustainable future. The initiative, a first of its kind in the Indian Power Sector, showcases NTPC’s commitment to decarbonizing existing coal-fired fleets and advancing towards Net Zero Emission targets. Earlier, NTPC established co-firing of 7 per cent to 10 per cent non-torrefied biomass with coal at NTPC Dadri.
However, to achieve higher percentages of biomass co-firing without major modifications, the possibility of using torrefied biomass was explored by Energy Transition and Policy Research Division of NTPC Engineering, the company said in a statement. Torrefied biomass, produced by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen, exhibits characteristics akin to coal, making it suitable for higher co-firing percentages without significant system modifications. The Gross Calorific Value (GCV) and cost of torrefied biomass pellets are currently equivalent to imported coal. NTPC’s endeavour towards decarbonization includes exploring biomass co-firing in both existing and new coal power plants. Each percent of biomass co-firing has the potential to reduce Carbon Emissions by approximately the same percentage. Additionally, biomass co-firing also mitigates air pollution caused by direct burning of stubble in the fields by the farmers. NTPC looks forward to a significant potential for cost reduction in the long run with the maturity of technology and market, setting a benchmark for sustainable power generation practices in the country.