Boosting Bioenergy: India’s Rs 857 Crore Investment in Waste-to-Energy

The Indian government's National Bioenergy Programme is gearing up for its second phase, with an allocation of Rs 857 crore, the New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi announced. This funding aims to bolster the waste-to-energy initiative through financial assistance for bioenergy plants.

Originally notified in November 2022 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 1715 crore, the programme's second installment signifies a continued push to utilize abundant biomass resources like agricultural waste and municipal solid waste. These efforts are directed towards enhancing circularity in the Indian economy.

At the 4th BBB Summit, Sarangi emphasized the need to overcome challenges such as feedstock logistics and financing gaps, noting that while the biogas sector remains small compared to solar and wind, it holds a significant potential to grow under proper regulatory support and industry collaboration.

(With inputs from agencies.)