India unveils National Bio Energy Programme for next five years

New Delhi: India has unveiled its the “National Bio Energy Programme ” for the period of next five years (FY 2021-22  to  2025-26) to promote green energy transition in the country.

Unveiling the programme in New Delhi, Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh, mentioned the importance of Bioenergy for providing clean cooking through biogas, co-firing in thermal power plants by utilizing biomass pellets and briquettes and BioCNG for transport.

He also emphasized that the benefits of utilization of surplus biomass should reach the rural household by way of an additional source of income for farmers.

During the programme the Minister also launched the Biourja and Biogas portals.

The Ministry has notified the National Bioenergy Programme on 2nd November 2022.  It has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases. The Phase-I of the Programme has been approved with a budget outlay of 858 crores rupees.

Speaking at the event, Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary MNRE stressed the need for Bioenergy promotion not only because of its energy potential but also the large socio-economic benefits associated with it. 

During the seminar, salient features of the National Bioenergy Programme and its implementation mechanism were discussed. Issues related to the financing of Bioenergy projects, the resource potential of biomass and waste in India along with the socio-economic benefits of the Bioenergy sector were also dwelled upon.

The seminar on the National Bio Energy Programme was organised in partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF).