NTPC has invited bids for procuring 219,000 tons of non-torrefied biomass pellets at its coal-fired thermal power plant in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.

Bids must be submitted by January 28, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹1 million (~$11,536).

Micro and small enterprise (MSE) manufacturers having Udyam registration are exempted from paying the EMD.

Selected bidders must supply, load, transport, and deliver agro-residue-based non-torrefied biomass pellets at the national capital power station.

They must unload the product at the site, provided the pellets are loose-filled in the carriage vehicles. The carriage vehicles should be fully covered and waterproof during transportation to protect the pellets from rain, sunlight, and dust. Pellets packed in bags will not be accepted.

Successful bidders must bear the cost of unpacking and unloading and the additional costs, including demurrage costs. They must also supply the biomass pellets for 365 days from the tender award date.

Bidders must be pellet manufacturers or traders, and individual bidders must be at least 21 years old.

Bidders must be  an Indian or companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, consortiums, or cooperative societies registered in India. Alternatively, they can be non-resident Indians or multinational companies with registered offices in the country.

The base pellet material must be agro-residue (minimum 50% paddy residue). Individual pellets must be cylindrical and a maximum of 25 mm in diameter and 35 mm in length. Their gross calorific value must be between 2,800 kcal/kg to 3,400 kcal/kg.

MSEs with valid Udyam registration and credentials validated through the Udyam registration portal will receive a purchase preference.

Last May, the Ministry of Power mandated that every coal-based thermal power project operated by power generation utilities equipped with bowl mills must incorporate a 5% blend of biomass pellets derived from agro-residue annually.

In 2023, the Ministry of Power revised the Biomass Co-Firing Policy to benchmark the prices for biomass pellets utilized in co-firing at thermal power plants. The initiative aligns with the broader goal of incorporating cleaner and more eco-friendly energy sources into the country’s power generation landscape.