Brief Context
Context The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued revised guidelines for the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme, applicable for the period FY 2021–22 to 2025–26. What is Biomass? Biomass refers to organic material derived from plants and animals, and it includes: forestry waste, residue from agricultural operation, processed waste from industry, municipal/urban solid waste.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued revised guidelines for the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme, applicable for the period FY 2021–22 to 2025–26.
What is Biomass?
- Biomass refers to organic material derived from plants and animals, and it includes: forestry waste, residue from agricultural operation, processed waste from industry, municipal/urban solid waste.
- Annual Biomass production in the Country is around 750 MMT, out of which 228 MMT is surplus Biomass.
Key Features of the Revised Guidelines
- Simplified Procedures: Reduced paperwork and approval hurdles, especially benefiting MSMEs.
- Eased documentation requirements for briquette/pellet manufacturing units.
- Technological Integration: Promotes IoT-based monitoring or quarterly data submission, replacing costly SCADA systems.
- Ensures digital accountability while reducing operational costs.
- Market Flexibility: Replaces the earlier two-year contract requirement with a general sale agreement, allowing businesses to adjust to market demand dynamically.
- Performance-Based Subsidies: Under Central Financial Assistance (CFA), Projects operating at ≥80% efficiency get full subsidy.
- Projects below 80% get subsidy on a pro-rata basis.
- Rationalized Inspection Criteria: Performance inspection can now be done within 18 months of either commissioning or In-principle approval.
- Reduced operational requirement from three days (16 hrs/day) to one 10-hour stretch to verify performance.
- Regional Coordination: Biomass pellet producers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR districts of Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh can choose between MNRE or CPCB support schemes, depending on benefits.
| National Bioenergy Programme (NBP) – The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy notified the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP) for the period of FY 2021-22 to 2025-26 in 2022. – The programme has been recommended for implementation in two phases with a total budget outlay of Rs 1715 Crore and a budget outlay of Rs 858 Crore has been allocated for the Phase-1. – The National Bioenergy Programme will comprises of the following sub-schemes: 1. Waste to Energy Programme to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects). 2. Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects. 3. Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas. |
Source: PIB