India's biomass co-firing mandate

Updated October 2026

Key facts

• The comprehensive policy supersedes the 2021 and 2023 guidelines and brings torrefied MSW charcoal into co-firing.
• In the NCR, 50% of the biomass must be locally sourced paddy straw.
• The SAMARTH mission supports pellet supply chains and higher co-firing levels.
• NTPC has demonstrated 20% torrefied-biomass co-firing at its Tanda plant.

Torrefied or non-torrefied?

Plants can use non-torrefied, semi-torrefied or fully torrefied pellets, depending on boiler design. Non-torrefied pellets absorb moisture and grind poorly at higher blends; torrefied pellets grind much like coal and store better, which is why utilities such as TSPL have built their own torrefied pellet plants. Torrefied pellets for co-firing

Sources

• Powerline: Ministry of Power notifies comprehensive co-firing policy
• SAMARTH mission, Ministry of Power
• NTPC demonstrates 20% torrefied biomass co-firing at Tanda
• Argus: India's TSPL starts up torrefied bio-pellet plant