Biomass energy catches UP CM's fancy

Biomass energy has caught the fancy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Yadav has directed officials to conduct a state-wide survey to ascertain places, where biomass power plants could be established. This would promote green energy and help power-starved UP to tide over the crisis to some extent, said Akhilesh.

Stressing on finding cleaner energy sources, he directed officials to speed up the work towards biomass power plants. He observed that such units, if set up across UP, would not only supplement power availability, but conserve environment.

Biomass is a biological material from living or dead organisms, which could be used as renewable energy source, namely dead trees, branches, husk, paddy/pulse straw, dry plants, cow dung and even municipal solid waste.

He maintained that all-round development of the state could never be achieved without profound power for industry and domestic segments. Since UP is predominantly an agrarian economy, biomass is in abundance. Biomass units would also create employment opportunities and farmers could monitise their agricultural waste/leftovers.

Besides, conventional power plants had a long gestation period. The ash from biomass power units could be used to produce bricks, which again would boost local employment, Yadav said chairing a meeting on the topic here.

The state government is already preparing a new solar energy policy.

Against the total power demand of almost 12,000 Mw, the total availability at present is under 10,000 Mw with large quantum drawn from central sector.

UP was largely blamed for the recent grid failures in northern and eastern regions for purportedly drawing excess power from the grid against its quota. This charge, although, had been vehemently denied by the state.