New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) today hosted a National Workshop on the Introduction and Adoption of Biomass for Green Steam and Heat Applications in MSMEs at the Atal Akshay Urja Bhavan. The event, which focused on integrating biomass into industrial thermal processes, featured the official launch of a comprehensive report titled “Decarbonizing MSMEs: Use of Biomass for Green Steam and Heat Applications.”
The workshop was chaired by the Secretary of MNRE, Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, who delivered the keynote address. During his speech, the Secretary emphasized the critical role that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in India’s energy transition. He noted that moving away from fossil fuels to biomass-based solutions for steam and heat is a vital step toward achieving the nation’s net-zero targets and improving the sustainability of the industrial sector.
The newly released report provides a strategic roadmap for MSMEs to adopt biomass technologies. It outlines practical pathways for substituting coal and other high-emission fuels with biomass pellets and briquettes. Key areas covered in the report include supply chain management, biomass densification techniques, and the downstream utilization of biomass in industrial boilers and furnaces.
The workshop saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, technology providers, and industry representatives. Technical sessions throughout the day explored the economic and environmental benefits of green steam, highlighting successful case studies of biomass adoption in various industrial clusters across the country.
The initiative was supported by knowledge partners GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and Grant Thornton Bharat. These partners worked closely with the ministry to design the workshop agenda and compile the research for the report, focusing on making clean energy solutions accessible and financially viable for smaller industrial units.
Discussions also touched upon the recent revisions to the Biomass Programme guidelines, which have been updated to simplify paperwork and ease the approval process for MSMEs. By reducing regulatory hurdles and promoting the use of agricultural residue, the ministry aims to create a circular economy that benefits both the energy sector and the farming community.