Green energy major SAEL aims procuring 20 lakh tonnes of paddy stubble this season

Integrated renewable energy firm SAEL Industries has said that its expecting to procure about 20 lakh tonnes of paddy-waste with the onset of the harvesting season this year and convert it into clean electricity through its fuel aggregator. This scale of paddy-waste procurement drive addresses the pressing concern of stubble burning and agri waste management.

IPO-bound SAEL already maintains a healthy portfolio of 11 WTE plants across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, totalling 165MW which includes one under construction project in Rajasthan.

Stubble burning causes serious air pollution and health issues to the people in the Northern states and converting agricultural residue into electricity is one of the preferred ways of managing this problem.

Laxit Awla, CEO & Executive Director, SAEL Industries Ltd. says, “By converting agricultural waste into clean energy, we’re not only making an attempt at creating new income avenues for farmers but also attempting to tackle the issue of stubble burning. This initiative helps preserve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease dependence on fossil fuel imports, while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable energy grid. At SAEL, we are proud to be a part of this transformation– with our aim of turning substantial quantity of paddy waste into a renewable resource and contributing to sustainable innovation in India’s agri-energy sector.”

In its CY24 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Report, SAEL’s waste-to-energy operations had already achieved avoidance of 390,859.40 tonnes of CO2e emissions, underscoring the positive environmental impact of its ongoing operations.

SAEL’s Agri Waste-to-Energy operations currently provide employment to the local people across its plants and collection network, also creating livelihood opportunities for individuals. Several fuel collection centers have already been set up across villages.