PROVIDING impetus to the promotion of co-generation power projects, Punjab Energy Development Agency announced the commissioning of eight biomass projects of 104.25 MW capacity in the state, involving an outlay of Rs 422 crore. The industries which are setting up these projects include A B Sugars (33MW) in Hoshiarpur, Rana Sugars (23MW) in Amritsar, Abhishek Industries (20MW) in Barnala, Chandigarh Distillers & Bottlers (8.25MW) in Patiala, Nectar Life Sciences (6MW) Mohali, Setia Paper Mills (5MW) in Mukatsar, Shreyans Industries (3.5MW) in Sangrur and A B Grain Spirits (5.5MW) in Gurdaspur, said Punjab Non-Conventional Energy minister Bikramjit Majithia.The tariff for the current financial year 2007-08 under New and Renewable Sources of Energy policy is fixed at Rs. 3.59 per Kwh, he said. PEDA provides technical and facilitation services for setting up these projects. Keeping in view the interest shown by the industrialist the target of co-generation for next five years has been enhanced from 220 MW to 400 MW. Majithia said industries like paper, fertiliser, textile and others having huge potential are being motivated to adopt co-generation not only to augment the state grid capacity but would also create conducive conditions for providing employment and utilisation of environment friendly resources.He added co-generation projects of capacity 30.80 MW has been commissioned earlier and with the commissioning of these 8 projects, total capacity in the state has risen to 135.5 MW.PEDA has already tied up with various projects to augment of 68 MW power capacity in the next six months. The minister said that in addition to the above, PEDA has already planned a total capacity addition of 1681 MW through various New and Renewable Sources of Energy.