Solid Fuels in Indian Industry
Solid fuels continue to dominate India’s industrial energy landscape in 2025, Powering critical sectors such as cement, steel, sugar, ceramics, and textiles. From thermal coal and lignite to petroleum coke, metallurgical coke, and biomass, these fuels remain the backbone of industrial production. While coal still holds the largest share of India’s industrial energy basket, alternative fuels like petcoke and biomass are steadily gaining traction due to cost efficiency, availability, and environmental considerations.
List of Fossil Solid Fuels used in Indian Industry
Coal: Non-coking – Bituminous/sub-bituminous grades used in boilers, kilns, sponge-iron DRI units, widely used for captive power.
Lignite – Mostly used in boilers and small power plants.
Metallurgical coke – high carbon fuel/deoxidiser for iron & steel, foundries.
Coke breeze – Coke fines used in sintering and smaller furnaces.
Petroleum coke – cement kilns, lime/calcination; subject to local emission rules.
Coal/lignite briquettes – concentrated low-grade coal or filter for small and medium boilers.
List of Biomass Solid Fuels used in Indian Industry
Firewood / Wood logs & wood chips – Boilers, kilns, dryers
Charcoal(wood/coconut shell) – Foundries, metallurgy, small industrial heating
Agri-residue briquettes – Rice husk, sawdust, ground nut, coconut shells, mustard/soy stalks, corn cobs etc usable in Textiles, food, brick kilns
Pellets – Pellets are non-terrefied uses in Industrial boilers, co-firing
Torrefied biomass pellets – These are also called Bio-coal. Higher in energy density. used in Boilers, co-firing applications
Bagasse – Sugar mill cogeneration and process steam. Bagasse is sold to nearby industries when surplus.
Palm kernel shells – These are imported biomass residues. used by Cement, textiles, nearby industries. Imported biomass residues Industries needing biomass imports
Waste-derived solid fuels
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF/SRF) – used in Cement kilns, waste-to-energy
Tyre-Derived Fuel (TDF) – Cement/lime kilns
Industrial waste – co-processing Cement kilns (authorized use)
