Punjab in India hosts biggest torrefied biomass facility by Vedanta to turn crop waste into coal alternative

Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), a Vedanta Power company and the largest private thermal power producer in North India, has enabled the establishment of Punjab’s largest torrefied bio-pellets manufacturing facility. This initiative supports Vedanta’s Net Zero 2050 goal to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.

Image Source: Vedanta Power

Located near TSPL’s 1,980 MW power plant in Mansa, this pioneering project will transform agricultural stubble into high-grade bio-pellets — a cleaner, greener alternative to coal — while also addressing the critical issue of air pollution from stubble burning. This initiative is expected to reduce TSPL’s daily coal usage by 5 per cent, potentially cutting up to 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

The torrefied bio-pellets are made from agricultural stubble collected through TSPL’s comprehensive stubble management campaign. This broader initiative aims to reduce open-field burning, enhance air quality, and accelerate Punjab’s transition to clean energy. Through this drive, TSPL is positioning itself as a leading contributor to sustainable biomass-based solutions.

Biomass plants are indirectly connected to aluminium production by supplying renewable energy to aluminium smelters, which require large amounts of electricity to extract aluminium from bauxite ore. Using biomass-generated power helps these smelters reduce dependence on fossil fuels like coal, thereby cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

These high-quality solid biofuels are produced from agricultural residue or biomass through a thermochemical conversion process. The end product is a high-quality biofuel with significantly higher energy density than the original biomass feedstock. As a supercritical thermal power plant, TSPL requires only premium-grade biofuels like torrefied biomass to ensure optimal performance. The newly established facility, with a production capacity of 500 tonnes per day, transforms agricultural stubble into clean-burning, carbon-neutral bio-pellets—providing a sustainable alternative to coal.

Emphasising the role of industrial stewardship in driving environmental innovation, Dr. Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman of PPCB, commented, “The commissioning of these biomass plants reflects the kind of collaborative innovation required to improve air quality across Punjab and neighbouring states. By utilising agricultural stubble in the form of torrefied bio-pellets, TSPL is significantly reducing coal consumption and advancing environmental compliance in thermal power generation. Their leadership in facilitating this development underscores the impact of proactive industrial action in driving environmental transformation.”

The plant was officially inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), who served as Chief Guest, alongside Mr. Pankaj Sharma, Chief Operating Officer of TSPL. Punjab produces approximately 15–20 million tonnes of crop stubble (parali) each year, much of which is traditionally burned in open fields, significantly contributing to seasonal air pollution across North India. By incorporating biomass into its fuel mix, TSPL will reduce its carbon footprint in two ways:

• Firstly, TSPL has procured over 800,000 tonnes of agricultural stubble during the paddy season, which will be converted into around 640,000 tonnes of torrefied bio-pellets.
• Secondly, the company plans to reduce its coal usage by 5 per cent daily by replacing part of the coal with this carbon-neutral alternative. Together, these efforts are expected to prevent approximately 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

In addition, TSPL co-fires 450 tonnes of torrefied biomass daily, sourced from open markets and made from crop stubble. This initiative is fostering an ecosystem where farmers can redirect their crop stubble into profitable uses, rather than burning it and contributing to severe air pollution. TSPL will continue to expand its biomass co-firing efforts, directly supporting the decarbonisation of thermal power generation.

Mr. Rajinder Singh Ahuja, CEO, Vedanta Power, said, “As one of India’s largest private power generators, this initiative is aligned with our commitment to support the nation’s clean energy roadmap. Despite early-stage challenges including technology access, gaps in infrastructure, and limited bio-pellet availability, our focus on enabling a greener transition never wavered. This innovative solution will help mitigate Punjab’s stubble burning and lead towards a sustainable future. These plants complement our existing biofuel efforts and underscore our long-term vision for a more sustainable and future-ready power sector.”