MNRE revises Waste-to-Energy and Biomass Programme guidelines
On 28 June 2025 in New Delhi, MNRE notified revised guidelines for the Waste-to-Energy and Biomass programmes under the National Bioenergy Programme.
Summary
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified revised guidelines on 28 June 2025 in New Delhi for the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Programme and the Biomass Programme under the National Bioenergy Programme. Under the WtE changes, 50% of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) will be released after the Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board, against a bank guarantee. The balance follows on reaching 80% of rated capacity or the maximum CFA-eligible capacity, whichever is lesser. The Biomass Programme (Phase-I, FY 2021-22 to 2025-26) now allows IoT-based monitoring or quarterly data in place of costly SCADA systems. Its two-year briquette or pellet sale contract has been replaced with a general sale agreement.
Key facts
- Programme
- National Bioenergy Programme
- WtE first CFA tranche
- 50% after Consent to Operate from SPCB
- WtE balance CFA
- At 80% of rated capacity or max CFA-eligible capacity, whichever is lesser
- Biomass Phase-I period
- FY 2021-22 to 2025-26
- Monitoring
- IoT or quarterly data instead of SCADA
- Sale contract
- Two-year contract replaced by general sale agreement
- Net-zero goal (static)
- 2070
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under MNRE's revised Waste-to-Energy guidelines (June 2025), what share of the total Central Financial Assistance can be released after the plant obtains Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 50%
MNRE: 50% of total CFA will be released after obtaining the Consent to Operate certificate from the SPCB, against a bank guarantee.
The Biomass Programme whose guidelines MNRE revised in June 2025 is part of which programme?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme
MNRE: the revised guidelines are for the Biomass Programme under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme (FY 2021-22 to 2025-26).
Consider the following statements about MNRE's revised bioenergy guidelines of June 2025: 1. Under Waste-to-Energy, the balance CFA is released on achieving 80% of rated capacity or the maximum CFA-eligible capacity, whichever is lesser. 2. Under the Biomass Programme, the two-year briquette or pellet sale contract has been replaced with a general sale agreement. 3. Under the Biomass Programme, SCADA-based monitoring has been made mandatory for all plants. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
MNRE: statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: IoT-based monitoring or quarterly data submission is allowed instead of expensive systems like SCADA.