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Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has advocated the idea of making energy co-generation mandatory for all upcoming sugar mills.
Speaking as chief guest at a programme organised by North Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists' Association (NISSTA) here yesterday, UPERC chairman Desh Deepak Verma laid stress to encourage generation of bagasse-based green energy generation by mills. Bagasse is a sugar byproduct and is commonly used as fuel to produce thermal energy.
He noted that tariffs available for various Renewable Energy (RE) based including bagasse co-generation in UP were quite encouraging to attract further addition to the state cogeneration profile.
He announced that for further promotion of RE in UP, the Commission would consider enhancing the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) in-line with the national targets.
Verma lauded the sugar industry for supporting the state power sector through co-generation and emphasized that every sugar mill in UP, whether in public or private sector, must have its captive cogeneration facility.
He, however, lauded the efforts undertaken by the sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh to elevate the state on the national level for sugar manufacturing/production. There are about 115 sugar mills in UP with the majority being run in the private sector.
