'Revise bioenergy power tariffs to equal diesel, coal'

To boost the scope of renewable energy, India should revise tariffs generated from biomass energy (a renewable source) such that their pricing is equivalent to those of coal and diesel, an expert said here Wednesday.

"We are pushing for a policy on biomass power generation such that they (Indian government) should make it coal equivalent price or diesel equivalent price.

"We are also asking government to revise it every year," D. Radhakrishna, chairman of Urja Gyan Foundation and founder of Indian Biomass Association told reporters here.

He was attending the Round Table on Bioenergy Issues and Options here organized by the The Bengal Chamber and World Bioenergy Association.

Renewable or non-conventional energy resources include wind, solar, hydro and biogas. Biomass materials used for power generation include bagasse, rice husk, straw, cotton stalk, coconut shells, soya husk, de-oiled cakes, coffee waste, jute wastes, groundnut shells, saw dust etc.

About 32 percent of the total primary energy used in the country is still derived from biomass and more than 70 percent of the country's population depends upon it for its energy needs.

Radhakrishna said the current energy generation from biomass is about 1,200 MW all across the country and amounts to 2,700 MW with the inclusion of cogeneration (energy from biomass in sugar mills etc.).

"We are also pushing for establishing a bioenergy corporation and also a biomass mission like the Solar Mission," he said.