Haryana Opens Biomass Plant To Boost Clean Energy Shift

Joshi noted that Haryana is poised to lead India’s clean energy transition through rapid expansion in solar, bioenergy and hydrogen sectors. He described the Rewari project as a key step towards realising the Prime Minister’s vision of a sustainable and energy-secure future. Schemes such as PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar are driving solar growth in the state, with 1.74 million agricultural pumps and 45,000 rooftop installations. The new Rewari facility has a capacity of 240 tonnes per day. Haryana is on track to reach 24 GW in the coming years, supported by more than 12 GW of existing capacity.

The Minister expressed confidence that Haryana will emerge as a global clean energy leader. He highlighted a new national policy mandating co-firing of biomass pellets or torrefied municipal solid waste (MSW) charcoal in all coal-based thermal power plants. Under this policy, plants must co-fire 5 per cent biomass or MSW charcoal by weight, rising to 7 per cent for units in the Delhi NCR region.

For NCR plants, at least half of the required biomass will come from local paddy residue and stubble, helping address longstanding stubble-burning issues. The Centre is also strengthening source segregation and regulatory oversight to create a robust ecosystem for MSW-derived charcoal, given challenges linked to wet and unsegregated waste.

Joshi said the Rewari plant will use agricultural residues including paddy straw, mustard straw and cotton stalks to produce biomass pellets for thermal co-firing. This will reduce pollution, curb carbon emissions, create rural jobs and provide farmers with an additional income source.

He added that India has nearly doubled its power generation capacity in the past decade and is now a power-exporting nation, with Haryana benefiting substantially. The state has installed over 2.8 GW of renewable capacity, including 2.4 GW of solar power. More than 200,000 households have applied under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli scheme, and over 45,000 have already installed rooftop solar systems.

On green hydrogen, Joshi highlighted pioneering projects under way in Hisar, Panipat and Jhajjar, positioning Haryana at the forefront of the global clean fuel movement. He reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to supporting the state’s clean energy ambitions.