Boilers In India Account For 7% Of Total GHG Emissions Emit 182 Million Tonnes Of CO2 Annually

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, May 15 (KNN) Boilers in Indian factories release around 182 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year-about 7 per cent of the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and over a quarter of industrial emissions, a new report revealed on Wednesday.

The report, unveiled at the National Conclave on Greening Industrial Boilers in India by think tank iFOREST, highlights the alarming pollution levels from industrial boilers.

It notes that these boilers emit more particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) than India's entire automobile sector, mainly due to lax emission standards.

Boilers are critical in industries like food processing, chemicals, and textiles, where steam is essential for operations. India has around 45,200 such boilers producing 1.26 billion tonnes of steam annually.

Eight states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, account for two-thirds of them.

Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, said PM emissions from boilers exceed those from transport, with boilers responsible for 9 per cent of industrial PM, 8 per cent of SO2, and 17 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions. Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh are the top three polluting states.

Nearly 40 per cent of boiler capacity runs on fossil fuels, while biomass, although considered carbon-neutral, also contributes to air pollution.

Calling for action, iFOREST proposed a Green Boiler Mission to encourage cleaner alternatives and enhance safety. The average boiler age is 18 years, with 20 per cent over 25 years old, raising safety concerns.

Bhushan emphasised that transitioning to greener boilers is both a climate necessity and an economic opportunity. UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar added that the report offers a roadmap to cut emissions while promoting industrial growth and efficiency.

(KNN Bureau)

MENAFN16052025000155011030ID1109556705