India must be cautious on Net Energy Ratio of bioenergy production: Niti Aayog's Rajnath Ram
New Delhi: Bioenergy plays a crucial role in India's energy transition helping the country adopt cleaner and more
sustainable energy sources
but there is a need to exercise caution to ensure that the Net Energy Ratio (NER) of the biomass utilised for energy production is above unity,
Niti Aayog
's Energy Programme Director Rajnath Ram has said.
Net Energy Ratio (NER) is an important parameter that determines the economic use of biomass as a fuel. It is the ratio between energy produced from a fuel and the energy consumed to obtain it. Higher NER suggests a more sustainable energy source as less energy is required to obtain it. If the NER value is below 1, it indicates more energy is put to produce the biofuel than the energy obtained.
"The idea is to understand what are the different kinds of inputs that go into producing bioenergy, and (based on that) whether it is net surplus of energy or net user of energy. We also have to be cautious while choosing the kind of biomass because it should not be the case that we invest more energy in producing the bioenergy than what we gain," Ram said.
Crops like Maize and Sugarcane are generally considered to have low NER as compared to other crops.
India's commitment to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2070 brings bioenergy at the centerstage of the green energy transition. Biofuels have played a pivotal role in reducing energy imports, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy security while supporting rural prosperity too.
"Bioenergy can help fully utilise biomass and waste for economic use and India possesses large surplus of biomass and other waste material which can be converted into energy. This has the potential to reduce import dependence on fossil fuels and help manage the waste effectively. Its use has environmental benefits for mitigating air pollution due to less use of fossil fuels, and also the reduction of water and land footprint," Ram said.
Biofuels also create positive economic and social impact through creation of local jobs and business opportunities. Additionally, industries can decarbonize their operations using bioenergy. Ram also said India has the potential to generate roughly 208 billion units of power annually from bioenergy sources itself, with additional opportunities in bioethanol and Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) production.
"Bioenergy is a key pillar in India's energy transition offering environmental, economic and social development. As policy and investment continue to grow bioenergy will play and even bigger role in shaping India's sustainable future. It is estimated that bioenergy could meet at least 15-20 per cent of our total energy demand by 2040 or so, thus ensuring long-term sustainability," he said.
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