Gas Authority of India (GAIL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation of India (HPCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding with Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) to establish 20 CBG plants with a capacity of 10–15 TPD each
Punjab's New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister, Aman Arora, announced the state government's commitment to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 43 percent by 2030. Addressing the Monaco Hydrogen Forum in Monaco, Arora highlighted Punjab's power surplus status with an installed capacity of 15,000 MW, of which 20 percent (3,000 MW) is generated by renewable energy projects.
Expressing Punjab's eagerness to set up a pilot project for producing green hydrogen from paddy straw, Arora emphasised the state's dedication to leading the nation in producing green fuel to address future challenges and ensure energy security for the country.
To facilitate green hydrogen projects from biomass, the Punjab government is providing various incentives to industries, including 100 percent electricity duty exemption, no change of land use charges and external development charges (EDC), 100 percent stamp duty exemption for land registration, and 100 percent stamp duty exemption for land lease.
Arora underscored the state's promotion of paddy straw-based compressed biogas (CBG) projects, with four operational projects consuming about 0.28 million tonnes of paddy straw per annum. Six additional projects are expected to be operational in the next six months, and 28 projects are in various stages of execution, collectively consuming about 1.6 million tonnes of paddy straw annually once commissioned.
Highlighting collaboration with leading public sector undertakings, Arora mentioned that the Gas Authority of India (GAIL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation of India (HPCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) to establish 20 CBG plants with a capacity of 10–15 TPD each.
Arora also mentioned the allocation of 11 biomass-based power projects with a total capacity of 100 MW, currently in operation and consuming about 1.2 million tonnes of biomass annually. The initiatives reflect Punjab's commitment to renewable energy and sustainable practises.