Developed as part of the company-wide climate protection program, the 3MW biomass project can generate electricity and steam for the pharmaceutical and chemical production operations in Goa.
In July 2014, the company commissioned a new co-generation plant in Darmstadt, Germany.
Merck executive board chairman Karl-Ludwig Kley said: "As an innovative, high-tech company, we are also pursuing new solutions for generating energy at our sites throughout the world.
"Furthermore, our biomass plant shows the potential of corporate responsibility projects: the company, the environment and society benefit in equal measure."
The co-generation unit uses shells of cashews and coconuts, two crops that are farmed in the region, as biomass fuel to generate power while reducing CO2 emissions by around 11,500t.
Additionally, the €3m facility will ensure reliable energy supply and can operate independently of the public power grid.
