Technology · Bioenergy & climate / Biofuels & bioenergy

Biomass co-firing retrofits (coal-power units)

Coupling biomass generation with a coal unit so that it can co-fire 10 % or more biomass — over 150 commercial projects abroad, Chinese pilots since 2018, and NTPC's 20 % torrefied-biomass demonstration in India in 2024.

Maturity 6/9 Risk: high Energy Advanced Biofuels, SAF & Biorefining 2.0 CN verified 2026-10-16 · 5 Sources

1 · What it gives

Biomass co-firing retrofit couples biomass generation with a coal power unit so that, after retrofit, the unit can co-fire 10 % or more biomass. More than 150 commercial co-firing projects operate internationally, mainly in developed countries. In China pilot retrofit projects were announced in 2018; in India NTPC reported in 2024 a successful demonstration of co-firing 20 wt.% torrefied biomass at Tanda Unit 4.

2 · What it replaces 6

D2	Solid biofuel — pellets, briquettes and residue fuels — instead of coal in boilers and kilns Replaces: Coal (and heavy fuel oil) in industrial boilers, brick kilns, drying operations and institutional heating; open-field burning of the same …	FUEL
D1	On-farm and regional biofactories (multiplication units, media, quality control) for microbial bio-inputs — Bacillus, Trichoderma, Beauveria, Bt, beneficial insects — instead of importing finished chemical pesticides and fertilizers Replaces: Imported finished synthetic pesticides and part of mineral fertilizer programmes; also imported finished biologicals with long cold chains	EAC
D3	Biomass district heating instead of heating oil and coal Replaces: Heating oil and coal in district-heating and combined heat-and-power plants	FUEL
D1	Acid mine drainage and metal-rich mine water treatment with passive biological systems — sulfate-reducing bioreactors, compost wetlands, aerobic wetlands — instead of perpetual lime dosing Replaces: Active chemical treatment with lime/caustic soda (high-volume metal hydroxide sludge, continuous chemical and energy use), or no treatment …	SERV
D1	Bio-based and soil-biodegradable plastics instead of fossil commodity plastics (PET, LDPE, PS) and their microplastics Replaces: Fossil polyethylene/polypropylene/PS/PET in flexible and rigid packaging; intentional microplastics (restricted in the EU since 2023); …	PACK
D1	Biochar as a composting and manure additive, a feed additive and a low-cost sorbent for water and soil treatment — instead of coal-based activated carbon, chemical odour and ammonia binders, and part of clay toxin binders Replaces: Coal- or fossil-based activated carbon for low-demanding sorption duties; chemical odour/ammonia control in litter and compost; part of the …	AGROCHEM

3 · How to implement 3 steps

1
Site and fuel supply
Choose a suitable site and secure long-term, stable biomass supply.
2
Retrofit the unit
Retrofit the coal unit to co-fire biomass at the target share.
3
Account and report
Set up carbon and electricity accounting for the biomass share.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Kobelco Eco-Solutions Vietnam Co.,Ltd.	Vietnam	Services / consulting	active
True Eco Sdn Bhd	Malaysia	Distributor	active
Prometheus Materials	United States	Research / RTO	active
Alveo Water (Pty) Ltd	South Africa	Services / consulting	active
BM GreenTech Berhad	Malaysia	Research / RTO	active
GPS Renewables	India	Research / RTO	active
Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.	Japan	Research / RTO	active
MENA-Water	United Arab Emirates	Producer	active
Pyrogreen Energy	China	Producer	active
Aemetis	United States	Producer	active
Gevo	United States	Producer	active
LanzaTech	United States	Producer	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

NTPC (India) provides biomass co-firing in existing and new coal plants. Others are matched by the portal under Energy and Advanced biofuels.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: FUEL · EAEU conformity procedures / accredited bodies
declaration of conformity (testing extra)
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

European Union

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the EU regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

China

In China the Coal Power Low-Carbon Retrofit Action Plan (2024–2027) sets requirements for biomass co-firing, project layout and carbon reduction. Co-firing is not covered by existing biomass electricity tariff subsidies, and standards for accounting the electricity are needed.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

No open tender or grant matched right now.

7 · Tech stack & innovations

Main risks from the sources: intensified air pollution and health risks (one study projects higher SO2, PM2.5 and NOx), slow progress from project economics and high fuel cost, and subsidy and accounting gaps.

Sources 5

Gov.cn — www.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Ntpc.co.in — ntpc.co.in 2026-10-16
Ccn.ac.cn — www.ccn.ac.cn 2026-10-16
Discovery.ucl.ac.uk — discovery.ucl.ac.uk 2026-10-16
Pubs.acs.org — pubs.acs.org 2026-10-16