Latest news with #NationalBioenergyProgramme
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
For net-zero, we need more waste-to-energy plants, decentralised biobank storage: Sangita M Kasture, Scientist ‘G', MNRE
As India targets a net-zero goal by 2070, a crucial element of this objective is the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and sustainable resources. In 2022, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the National Bioenergy Programme to promote waste-to-energy initiatives, as well as biogas and biomass production. With the first phase of this programme nearing completion this financial year, Sangita M Kasture , Scientist 'G' at MNRE , discusses the sector's potential, progress, and challenges with ET Digital . Edited Excerpts. Economic Times (ET): Tell us about Phase I of the National Bioenergy Programme. What types of subsidies are available to support this programme? Sangita M Kasture (SMK): The basic objective of this programme is to utilise the waste available in the country and generate energy. It is also meant to solve environmental issues and provide rural and women empowerment. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo Phase I had been approved with a budget of Rs 858 crore, and this was broken up into three components: waste-to-energy, biomass, and the biogas programme. We are trying to cover various waste, including agricultural residue, industrial waste, and cattle dung. We are looking at household-level biogas plants as well as medium-scale-level biogas plants. The final application here is either power generation from biogas or thermal applications for heating, etc. The major focus of waste-to-energy, where the larger component is Rs 600 crore, is given. Their major focus has been compressed biogas. We call it bioCNG, a substitute for CNG, which comes from fossil fuel, which is imported. So here, we are trying to provide the central finance assistance (CFA), which is a subsidy that is provided after commissioning and successfully operating the plant. We are not providing it in advance. Live Events Suppose any plant is of a certain capacity, for example, 10 tonnes per day; then it has to produce 88 tonnes per day. It has to show a capacity at 80% efficiency; then only we provide the subsidy. So, that is where we have received a good, overwhelming response to this scheme. Almost 95% of the budget has been exhausted, so we are now asking for an additional budget for this. Under the biomass programme, we are promoting densification of biomass because logistics is another issue, as this biomass is lightweight. It has to be densified for further usage. So for that we are promoting briquetting and palletisation of this. We are also providing subsidies for such plants. For briquette manufacturing plants, the CFA is Rs 9 lakh/tph (tonnes per hour). For non-torrefied pellet manufacturing plant is Rs 21 lakh/mtph and Rs 42 lakh/mtph, or 30% of the capital cost (whichever is lower) for torrefied pellet manufacturing plants. The torrified plants retain more moisture in pellets. These pellets are then used in thermal power plants, and hence, their demand is increasing as they are replacing coal. Similarly, we have provided CFA for the biogas programme but with a cap. For small biogas plants (1-25 cubic metre/day capacity), there is a subsidy of Rs 9,800-Rs 70,400 based on the size of the plant. Then we have a subsidy for larger plants (25-2500 cubic metre/day capacity) for power generation and thermal applications: Rs 35,000-45,000 per kilowatt for power generation and Rs 17,500-22,500 per kilowatt equivalent for thermal applications. ET: What is the market size and potential for this sector? SMK: Currently, the estimated CBG (compressed biogas) potential in India is around 87,000 tonnes per day, or we can say 32 million metric tonnes per annum. Last year, we sold 31,423 tonnes, which is very less. Earlier it was 15 million metric tonnes when the scheme was launched in 2022. So, this is a huge amount; we have not even reached 1 million metric tonnes. A lot of potential is there. We have continuous demand—right from transportation to cooking. But about 88% of oil and CNG is imported, so we must replace it using Indian sustainable resources. The availability of biomass is around 230 million metric tonnes, plus we have so much cattle dung. In India, we have a huge surplus of waste but we need more waste-to-energy plants. In Germany alone, there are about 10,000 waste-to-energy plants where the energy generated is used for heating and thermal applications because they need it for winter. Whereas, since we have enough solar energy available, we can use the energy generated from waste in other applications, such as transportation. ET: The biogas industry in India faces challenges related to the feedstock supply chain. How can we overcome that? SKM: The supply chain is very important because farmers need to stock residue, and huge space is required for that. So, a few industries are using that and storing it if they have enough space and land, or sometimes they give it on contract. There are some subsidies available for that, like the agriculture ministry provides for CRM (crop residue management) machines. There is another scheme for biomass aggregation machinery by the ministry of petroleum. They provide that for certain projects. I personally feel that we should have decentralised biobank storage, and we need some support to create that facility. Biomass storage needs certain care and safety measures. Carrying biomass is very difficult because it is of lighter volume and the weight is very less. This increases the surface area, and then logistics is also higher accordingly. Which is why we need it to be densified and converted into pellets before being supplied to the industry. Other industries, like the hotel and food processing industries, need to come forward here. ET: How are you driving awareness around waste-to-energy and biogas programme? SKM: We have our own campaign, which we have been doing for the last two years. We have a mobile van, which goes to rural areas. We specifically targeted northern states like Punjab and Haryana, and our social media channels are also active in promoting the schemes. We also have state nodal agencies as well, helping us in spreading awareness about programme. We have eight biogas development and training centres across India driving the training and awareness. ET: What can we expect from Phase II of this programme? SKM: We are currently expecting some additional budget. There is a very good response from developers to this scheme, so they have already submitted applications and have started project commissioning also. To consider subsidy support, we have asked for some additional budget. That proposal is under consideration by the finance ministry. This sector is evolving; only initial investment costs are higher, but it gets good returns over time. We are trying to work and help various ministries to make this a viable business opportunity.
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
MNRE likely to allocate ₹857 crore for phase 2 of waste-to-energy scheme
The government's waste-to-energy initiative may get Rs 857 crore in the second phase of National Bioenergy Programme this year, New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said on Friday. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified the National Bioenergy Programme in November 2022 with a budgetary outlay of Rs 1,715 crore for the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 to be implemented in two phases. The first phase has a budget outlay of Rs 858 crore. The programme supports setting up of bioenergy plants by providing central financial assistance. Addressing the 4th BBB Summit by Indian Biogas Association(IBA), Sarangi said,"...in the phase two, we are likely to get another Rs 857 crore for this." He noted that agriculture tends to produce a lot of other kinds of waste, and ancillaries associated with agriculture, including animals, also produce a lot of waste. There are a lot of abundant biomass resources such as agricultural waste, animal dung, sugarcane bagasse, municipal solid waste which can be processed to bring about circularity in the economy, he suggested. Under National Bioenergy Programme, the ministry has taken up a number of initiatives to promote biogas and the value addition ecosystem in the country, he said. Sarangi noted that a lot of bricking and pelletization plants were introduced and a lot of plants which were processing and making CBGs (compressed biogas) were supported. Pellet projects with a total capacity of around 400 tonnes per hour have been supported and a lot of projects have been commissioned. "Because of certain issues in our guidelines, we were not able to release the kind of commitment, financial commitments which were there. In the meantime, we have discussed with the Department of Expenditure and we have found mechanisms of supporting these industries which have received clearance from us," he said. He stressed on the need to address challenges in the biogas industry and pointed towards potential barriers like evolution of feedstock logistics, financing gaps and, regulatory coordination. He mentioned that the biogas industry is small in comparison to solar and wind energy sector and relatively at nascent stage. "And to that extent there are many potential barriers like evolution of the feedstock logistics, the financing gaps, regulatory coordination which needs to be addressed in forums like this, which provide us with an opportunity to understand these kind of gaps in a much better manner and address them through both government as well as industry-led initiatives in this sector," he said.
Business Mayor
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
India's agri waste-to-energy initiative to get Rs 857 cr boost from Govt: MNRE Secretary
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said the government is looking at additional investments in a project that looks to convert agri waste to energy biomass and biogas projects. Speaking at the BBB Summit by India Biogas Association held in New Delhi, Sarangi said India is advancing in the biomass to green hydrogen initiative under the National Green Hydrogen mission and 7 R&D projects have been supported under this initiative. 'India has been at the forefront of an agricultural revolution. If you look at many of the products like dairy products, rice, India has been either number one or two at a global level. So apart from feeding 140 crore people, India is also a dominant agricultural exporter. This reflects the prowess of Indian farmers and Indian agricultural scientists in managing our ecosystem in a way where we are maximising the output from our country,' he said. The Secretary lauded India's blessed resources in terms of arable land and size where agroclimatic conditions in different parts of the country provide a very conducive climate for products like dragon fruit, rice, different varieties of wheat, etc. However, this comes with a lot of agri-waste, which needs to be tended through a circular economy. There is a need to make the most of the waste, such as transforming it into green hydrogen and ethanol. He added that the government has come up with various schemes and mechanisms for the same. 'MNRE came up with the National Bioenergy Programme in November 2022 to promote waste-to-energy biomass and biogas projects. So, it had a total budget allocation of about Rs 1715 crore through which it took up a number of initiatives to promote the biomass ecosystem and the value addition ecosystem in our country. A lot of briquetting and filtration plans were introduced in Phase 1, for which Rs 858 crore was allocated. We are likely to get another Rs 857 crore for Phase II of the programme which we are expediting in consultation with the Department of Expenditure,' he added that the government has come up with a biogas application portal for companies through which the applications can be filed in a transparent and streamlined manner and will be a one-stop solution for the applicants who are applying for different kinds of projects under also acknowledged that the waste-to-biomass sector is currently very nascent. 'It is a relatively small industry compared to solar or wind. Therefore, there are many barriers, like evolution of the field stock logistics, financing gaps, irregular regulatory coordination, etc., which need to be addressed. Forums like this (BBA) will provide us with an opportunity to understand these kinds of gaps in a much better manner and address them through both government and industrial initiatives in this sector,' he said. READ SOURCE
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MNRE in talks with Department of Expenditure to expedite National Bioenergy Programme assistance
New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE ) is in talks with the Department of Expenditure (DoE) under the Finance Ministry to expedite the flow of assistance to the tune of Rs 857 crore for the second phase of the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP), MNRE secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said today. NBP was launched in November 2022 with an aim to promote waste to energy, biomass, and biogas projects, with a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,700 crore through which the ministry has taken various initiatives to promote biogas and the associated value addition ecosystem in the country. The scheme has supported many briquetting and palletisation plants apart from projects which were processing and making Compressed Bio Gas. It has provided support for Briquette and pellet projects of around 400 tonne capacity. Sarangi said the government was earlier unable to release the required financial commitments because of certain issues in guidelines but the issues have been discussed with the Department of Expenditure and MNRE has found the mechanisms for supporting the industries which have already received clearance. "In Phase I of the project, we got Rs 858 crore, and in phase II we are likely to get another Rs 857 crore for this. We are also in the process of expediting phase 2 in consultation with the Department of Expenditure," Sarangi said, speaking at the bbb Summit here. He also said that the government is ensuring that biowaste material -- including agricultural waste, animal dung, sugarcane bagasse and Municipal Solid Waste -- is being converted for more productive uses like production f Green Hydrogen, Methanol or Syngas. "We have also set up a Bio-Urja portal through which applications can be filed in transparent and streamlined manner. That is expected to be a one stop solution for the applicants who are applying for different projects under MNRE. There are also many ways in which the government has adopted a whole-of-Govt approach covering schemes administered by different ministries," he said. Sarangi said MNRE is also advancing the "Biomass-to-Green Hydrogen" initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and seven R&D projects have been supported to see the feasibility of generation of green hydrogen using the biomass route. The biofuel industry is relatively nascent and small as against solar or wind. To that extent, there are many potential barriers like evolution of feedstock logistics, financing gaps, regulatory coordination required etc. This needs to be addressed.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's agri waste-to-energy initiative to get ₹857 cr boost from Govt: MNRE Secretary
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said the government is looking at additional investments in a project that looks to convert agri waste to energy biomass and biogas projects. Speaking at the BBB Summit by India Biogas Association held in New Delhi, Sarangi said India is advancing in the biomass to green hydrogen initiative under the National Green Hydrogen mission and 7 R&D projects have been supported under this initiative. 'India has been at the forefront of an agricultural revolution. If you look at many of the products like dairy products, rice, India has been either number one or two at a global level. So apart from feeding 140 crore people, India is also a dominant agricultural exporter. This reflects the prowess of Indian farmers and Indian agricultural scientists in managing our ecosystem in a way where we are maximising the output from our country,' he said. The Secretary lauded India's blessed resources in terms of arable land and size where agroclimatic conditions in different parts of the country provide a very conducive climate for products like dragon fruit, rice, different varieties of wheat, etc. However, this comes with a lot of agri-waste, which needs to be tended through a circular economy. There is a need to make the most of the waste, such as transforming it into green hydrogen and ethanol. He added that the government has come up with various schemes and mechanisms for the same. 'MNRE came up with the National Bioenergy Programme in November 2022 to promote waste-to-energy biomass and biogas projects. So, it had a total budget allocation of about ₹1715 crore through which it took up a number of initiatives to promote the biomass ecosystem and the value addition ecosystem in our country. A lot of briquetting and filtration plans were introduced in Phase 1, for which ₹858 crore was allocated. We are likely to get another ₹857 crore for Phase II of the programme which we are expediting in consultation with the Department of Expenditure,' he said. He added that the government has come up with a biogas application portal for companies through which the applications can be filed in a transparent and streamlined manner and will be a one-stop solution for the applicants who are applying for different kinds of projects under MNRE. He also acknowledged that the waste-to-biomass sector is currently very nascent. 'It is a relatively small industry compared to solar or wind. Therefore, there are many barriers, like evolution of the field stock logistics, financing gaps, irregular regulatory coordination, etc., which need to be addressed. Forums like this (BBA) will provide us with an opportunity to understand these kinds of gaps in a much better manner and address them through both government and industrial initiatives in this sector,' he said.
