THE Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) on Friday finalised the allocation of 31 decentralised biomass power projects with aggregate capacity of 338 mw, having capacity ranging from 5 mw to 20 mw in 31 tehsils. Stating this here, Bikram Singh Majithia, minister, science, technology, environment and NCES, said that these power projects are being set up on build, operate and own (BOO) basis. This has attracted Rs 1,450 crore private investment. Out of these, 21 such projects with a capacity of 220 mw, have been allocated to the private developers. All these power projects are scheduled to be commissioned by September 2009. He said that in order to encourage cogeneration in the industries, PEDA has also facilitated and commissioned 6 biomass cogeneration projects with a total capacity of 39 mw and 4 such projects of total capacity of 91 mw are under execution. They are likely to be commissioned by December 2007. Another 8 cogeneration biomass projects with a total capacity of 71 mw are in the pipeline and MOUs for the same will be signed shortly. With the commissioning of all these power projects, direct employment for 1,600 skilled persons and indirect employment for 5,000 persons will be created in the state. He said that these environment friendly power projects would help in abatement of green house gases (GHG) emissions responsible for global warming. The minister said that since Punjab faces peak power shortage of 3,000 mw, the commissioning of these projects would help in supplementing power requirement of around 26%. He added that the state government is committed to promote renewable power through private sector by providing attractive tariff and fiscal incentives. Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, chief executive, PEDA, said that in addition to biomass projects, PEDA has also signed MoUs for sale of power from 66 small/micro hydel projects with a total capacity of 258 mw.