Centre Releases New Guidelines for Waste-to-Energy Projects

New Delhi, June 28: The central government has released new guidelines under the National Bioenergy Programme to improve waste-to-energy (WTE) projects in India. These guidelines aim to make the system more efficient, transparent, and based on actual plant performance.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the updated rules simplify the process, reduce paperwork, and help both private and public sectors—especially MSMEs—build plants that convert bio-waste into energy like biogas, CBG, and electricity. These efforts also support India’s mission to reduce emissions and improve waste management, including stubble and industrial waste.

One major change is in how the government gives Central Financial Assistance (CFA). Now, 50% of the CFA will be given once the project gets the “Consent to Operate” certificate from the Pollution Control Board. The remaining 50% will be given when the plant reaches 80% of its capacity. If the plant does not meet 80%, some amount may still be given based on how much energy it produces—unless it falls below 50%, in which case no CFA is provided. Developers now have up to 18 months from commissioning (or approval date) to claim CFA, whichever is later.