Work on Punjab's first biomass project commences

Patiala, Dec 19 (UNI) Union Minister of state for renewable energy Vilas Muttemwar today unveiled the foundation stone of a biomass project for the generation of power from paddy straw and other farm wastes at Baghaura village, near here.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who holds the power portfolio was also present on the occasion.

This 12 MW project will be the first out of nine similar projects to be set up in rural Punjab. This plant will become operational within two years followed by other similar units which will come up within four year, generating a total of 108 MW of electricity.

This project has been undertaken by Punjab Biomass Power Ltd, a joint venture between Bermaco Energy Systems Ltd, Gammoln Infrastructure Project Ltd and Archean Granites Pvt Ltd.

This unique 'farmer to farmer' project and the other eight will all be located in rural areas and will provide valuable extra power to farmers. The nine biomass projects will provide additional income to some 10,000 to 15,000 farmers located around each project area, from the sale of agricultural wastes.

In Punjab around one lakh million tonnes of paddy straw are burnt every year after the harvest season despite warnings by agri experts and enviornmentalists.

The project will also be a major milestone in the area of environment protection in three ways. Firstly, it will convert agriculture waste to valubale energy. Secondly, it will reduce the release of smoke and other pollutants caused by the burning of paddy straw into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Lastly, the plant will also use no non-renewable fossil fuels and will therefore also earn valuable carbon credits.

The project has been a major thrust area for the Punjab Government, the Punjab State Electricity Board, the Department of Science and Technology and other state government organisations that have jointly worked to develop it.

UNI HS PV KN1705