The Union Power Ministry has introduced new guidelines to deploy the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework for procurement of power from grid-connected Waste-to-Energy (WTE) projects.

These guidelines, issued under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, aim to enhance cleaner waste management practices and enable municipal corporations, local bodies, and state agencies to procure WTE power through fair bidding processes. With India's urban centers producing around 70 million tonne of municipal solid waste annually, the guidelines are seen as a vital step toward addressing the growing waste management challenge.

The guidelines, which exclude existing projects, set clear timelines for the bidding process, with a minimum of 45 days between the issuance of RfS (request for selection) document and the last date of bid submission, and completion of awards should be within 90 days. "The development of robust waste processing infrastructure must be prioritized," stated the Power Ministry.