Cleaner air, greener energy, stronger rural economy.

Biomass Co-Firing Cuts CO₂ by 35 Lakh MT, Punjab Stubble Burning Down 80%.

Biomass co-firing in thermal power plants has saved over 35 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions nationwide, while stubble burning incidents in Punjab have fallen by more than 80% between 2021 and 2024, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). By mid-2025, 71 thermal plants across India, including 11 in NCR, adopted biomass co-firing, using paddy straw and other residues to replace 5–10% of coal. This has improved air quality, with Delhi-NCR recording its cleanest July in a decade and PM levels down 15% since 2017-18. Farmers benefit from additional income by selling crop residue, turning waste into renewable energy. Experts stress the need for advanced combustion, carbon capture, and robust biomass supply chains. CAQM’s model, which includes dust control, AI vehicle monitoring, and public campaigns, is now being considered for replication in other polluted cities like Bengaluru.