6210.1BIOMASS RESOURCE POTENTIALThe current availability of biomass in India is estimated at about 120-150 million MT/annum covering agricultural and forestryresidues corresponding to a potential of 16,000 MW. This apart, 5000 MW can be installed through bagasse cogeneration.Plantations on waste lands also provide significant opportunity - about 62,000 MW for grid-interactive power and another15,000 MW for off-grid applications.10.2BIOMASS POWER/ COGENERATION PROGRAMME10.2.1 ObjectivesThe Biomass Power/Co-generation Programme is being implemented during the 10th Plan with the following objectives:i.To promote technologies of bagasse co-generation in sugar mills, biomass combustion and megawatt scale gasificationfor generation of power.ii.To support and thus enlarge activities through awareness creation, publicity measures, seminars/workshops/business meetsetc.10.2.2 The Programme includes the following Components:lInterest Subsidy for Bagasse/Biomass Co-generation projects, including IPP mode projects;lInterest Subsidy for Biomass Power Projects, including captive power projects;lGrants to MW-scale projects with 100% producer gas engines, and Advanced Biomass Gasification projects; andlPromotional Incentives for awareness creation, training and preparation of Detailed Project Reports.10.2.3 Progress and New InitiativesDuring the year i.e. April to December 2005, capacity addition of 118 MW by biomass power/cogeneration projects in fiveStates was achieved against a target of 160 MW. Another 50 MW of capacity addition is likely to be achieved by the end of thefinancial year.10.3BAGASSE COGENERATION PROGRAMME10.3.1 Private Sector Sugar MillsDuring 2004, the steam parameters were upgraded to 87 ata 515o C which give almost 5% to 6% higher output in grosspower generation than the 67 ata system. As of now there are 12 plants already in operation with 87 ata and 515o Csteam parameters in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and about 15 projects are underimplementation. Several continuous bagasse feeding system, regenerative feed water heating, variable frequencydrives have led to improved the plant reliability and efficiency.10.3.2 Cooperative Sector Sugar MillsA 20 MW cogeneration project with 67 ata and 490° C configuration in a cooperative sector sugar mill in Belgaum district hasbeen successfully commissioned and two cogeneration projects of 9 MW and 16 MW capacities with a similar configuration inSholapur and Ahmednagar are in advanced stages of implementation and are expected to go on-stream in March 2006.Commissioner of Sugar, Maharashtra State has initiated development of cogeneration projects by BOOT developers on competitivebidding basis. 10 sugar mills have joined the process and the bidding is likely to be completed by March 2006. Eight cooperativesugar mills in Maharashtra have prepared Detailed Project Reports with a configuration of 67 ata 485°C. During the year, theMinistry supported in-plant training programme on sugar mill cogeneration for cooperative sector sugar mills in Karnataka andMaharashtra. The Ministry has sponsored a quarterly newsletter “Cane Cogen India” on sugar mills cogeneration. The objectiveof the newsletter is to create awareness and disseminate information of the activities in bagasse cogeneration.10.3.2.2 Unless co-operative sector mills, which constitute more than 55% of the sugar mills in the country, are able to developbankable cogeneration projects, the potential of 5,000 MW might not be achieved. As on date, the installed capacity forcogeneration power plants in co-operative sugar mills is hardly 50 MW from 8 sugar mills. A Committee is being constituted,comprising among others, representatives of Ministry of Consumer Affairs and NCDC to suggest innovative ways and meansfor accelerated growth of bagasse cogeneration, especially in the cooperative sector. The report of the committee is expectedduring 2006-07.
