New Delhi: The World Biogas Association (WBA) organised two-day INDIA Congress 2024, highlighting India’s immense potential and ambition in the biogas sector. The event focused on crafting a framework to accelerate the biogas industry’s growth in the region, drawing global attention to bioenergy at a critical time as Brazil is all set to hold the G20 Presidency, host COP30, and lead BRICS in 2025.
The inaugural sessions of the World Biogas Association INDIA Congress, titled “Realising India’s Biogas Potential,” were followed by six other insightful sessions. Each session shed light on the ways India can harness biogas to meet its environmental and economic goals.
The opening day of the Congress highlighted India’s watershed moment in its quest for sustainable development, presenting biogas as a renewable energy alternative to combat climate change and promote green growth. With rising urbanization, India has a unique chance to incorporate sustainable solutions to air pollution, water scarcity, and extreme weather.
The government has already proved its commitment through pilot initiatives in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, which aim to reduce emissions and create green jobs. However, there are problems such as distribution network restrictions, pricing issues, and technological deficiencies. The sessions emphasized the importance of overcoming these barriers through improved infrastructure and technological efficiency, with both the public and private sectors collaborating to position biogas as a key player in India’s energy future, thereby strengthening the country’s global leadership in sustainability.
Furthermore, stakeholders from diverse industry sectors intend to work together to fulfill the pledge to develop a National Biogas Roadmap by COP30 in 2025. The strategy will create a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework, assist capacity-building activities, and address supply chain constraints critical to scaling up biogas production in India.
Speaking at the event, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said, “We are at a critical point where biogas holds immense potential for India’s green energy future,” “Biogas not only meets our energy needs, but it also addresses environmental issues and creates jobs.” With government initiatives like the 5,000 CBG plants under the SATAT project, India has the potential to dominate the world in biogas. This is more than just shifting to cleaner energy; it is about ensuring a sustainable future for millions of our citizens.”
WBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton OBE, said, “ As we look to the future, the importance of recycling organic waste cannot be overstated, as it is both a pressing necessity and an immense economic opportunity. India is perfectly positioned to seize this chance and lead globally.
With Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to supporting 5,000 bio-CNG plants by 2030, we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to develop a biogas roadmap for India. This will ensure the industry grows rapidly, meeting both environmental needs and creating a robust biogas sector that can also export to other countries building their own biogas capabilities, Charlotte added.
The two-day Congress explored global strategies to boost biogas production, such as integrating bioethanol production from sugarcane with biogas production.
