SAEL Industries Ltd. (SAEL), an integrated renewable energy company, has announced plans to procure approximately 20 lakh tonnes of paddy stubble this harvesting season through its fuel aggregator network. The collected crop residue will be converted into clean electricity, helping to curb the widespread issue of stubble burning in North India.
SAEL currently operates 11 Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan with a combined capacity of 165 MW, including one project under construction. This large-scale procurement drive is part of SAEL’s strategy to transform agricultural waste into a renewable energy source while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to estimates based on the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, this initiative could help avoid nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions, contributing significantly to India’s clean energy transition.
“Crop residue represents an underutilized opportunity — environmentally, socially, and economically,” said Laxit Awla, CEO & Executive Director, SAEL Industries Ltd. “By converting agricultural waste into clean energy, we aim to create new income avenues for farmers, preserve soil health, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.”
SAEL’s agri waste procurement model not only promotes sustainable energy generation but also creates local employment opportunities and supports rural livelihoods. The company’s WTE operations have already achieved avoidance of over 390,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and innovation in India’s agri-energy sector.