Vedanta Power Expands Farm Waste-to-Energy Initiative in Punjab to Reduce Stubble Burning
Vedanta Power has expanded its farm waste-to-energy initiative in Punjab, positioning itself as a key private sector player in biomass co-firing while contributing to efforts aimed at reducing stubble burning and seasonal air pollution.
April 10, 2026. By News Bureau
The company’s Talwandi Sabo Power (TSPL) plant in Mansa has achieved an average biomass co-firing rate of 5.21 per cent in FY26 so far, exceeding regulatory requirements set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), according to company data. Under CAQM norms, thermal power plants within a 300 km radius of Delhi are mandated to co-fire biomass along with coal to curb emissions and address crop residue burning. TSPL has co-fired over 3.60 lakh metric tonnes of torrefied biomass in FY26, leading to an estimated reduction of 0.40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the company said.
The model involves procuring paddy straw from farmers, which is then converted into torrefied biomass pellets and used as fuel in thermal power generation, offering an alternative to open-field burning.
Vedanta said it has engaged around 3,800 farmers in the Mansa region and facilitated the collection of over 8 lakh metric tonnes of paddy straw, helping build a structured biomass supply chain ecosystem. To support operations, the company has also enabled the development of a torrefied bio-pellet manufacturing facility in Punjab with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day.
The impact of the initiative is visible at the ground level, with stubble burning cases in Mansa declining sharply from 2,253 in 2023 to 306 in 2025, a reduction of nearly 87 per cent. Over 100 villages reported zero farm fire incidents, while more than 28,000 acres of farmland were protected from burning.
“Sustainability is embedded in how we operate. At our Talwandi Sabo plant, we are enabling a cleaner thermal power transition by integrating biomass co-firing while continuing to deliver reliable power at scale,” Vedanta CEO–Power Rajinder Singh Ahuja said.
He added that the company’s approach combines technology upgrades, supply chain partnerships, and farmer engagement to create a scalable “waste-to-wealth” model.
Industry experts note that while biomass co-firing offers a viable solution to stubble burning, challenges remain around the availability and cost of torrefied biomass, as well as supply chain fragmentation and technical integration in existing plants.
Scaling up such initiatives will require consistent policy support, stronger vendor ecosystems, and investments in biomass processing infrastructure, they said.
The Mansa model highlights the potential for thermal power plants to contribute to cleaner energy transitions while addressing agricultural waste management challenges.
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