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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

16/10/22 07:50 AM IST

Govt to offer aid to set up paddy straw pelletisation, torrefaction plants

In News 
  • Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) guidelines for the grant of one-time financial support for promoting establishment of paddy straw based pelletisation and torrefaction plants.
Guidelines 
  • Under the scheme, the Centre will fund new pelletisation plants (the usual cost is ₹35 lakh) to a maximum of ₹70 lakh subject to capacity.
  • Torrefaction plant(usual costs ₹70 lakh), is eligible for maximum funding of ₹1.4 crores.
  • THE NEED – Every year, over 27 million tonnes of paddy straw is generated in Punjab and Haryana, many of which are usually burnt which adds to the air pollution.
  • PELLETISATION – Pelletizing is the process of compressing or molding a material (rice straw) into the shape of a pellet.
  • TORREFECTION – Torrefaction is a thermal pre-treatment technology. It produces a solid biofuel product that has superior handling, milling and co-firing capabilities compared to other biomass fuels.
  • Torrefaction is costlier but it can deliver a product whose energy content is much higher and can substitute for more coal in a power plant.
Benefits 
  • Paddy straw made into pellets or torrefied can be mixed along with coal in thermal power plants. This saves coal as well as reduces carbon emissions
  • Will reduce straw burning and improve the AQI in NCR and states like Punjab and Haryana.
  • Employment generation and energy security
Source- PIB 

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