All thermal power plants in the National Capital Region are required by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjacent Areas to begin co-firing biomass-based pellets with coal, with a goal of at least 5% co-firing by September
and at least 10% by December 2023. The use of paddy straw for this type of co-firing should be the main focus. Co-firing is a method for turning biomass into energy by using it as a partly replacement fuel in boilers that run on coal. The government stated in an official statement that thermal facilities have been ordered to rigorously adhere to the emission requirements at all times and with immediate effect.
The first action taken report in line with this instruction must be sent to the commission by September 30, 2023, and following that, monthly reports must be given, according to the announcement. The commission has been bringing up the issue of managing agricultural stubble with NCR state governments to ensure the use of agricultural residue/biomass pellets as fuel in thermal plants, as ex-situ usage of paddy straw is a crucial technique to control stubble burning.
