National Bioenergy Programme rolled out in India

The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power Shri R. K. Singh, in a written reply to a question, in Lok Sabha on August 10, 2023 stated that under the National Bioenergy Programme there have been 6 BioCNG plants and more than 11,100 small biogas plants commissioned.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has notified the National Bioenergy Programme on November 2, 2022. MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. 

National Bioenergy Programme

• National Bioenergy Programme, inter alia, promotes the utilization of biomass such as surplus agricultural residue, agro-based industrial residue, industrial wood-waste, forest residue, energy plantation based biomass etc. for energy generation and therefore would not pose a risk of deforestation.
• The National Bioenergy Programme comprises of the following sub-schemes:
• Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects).
• Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.
• Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

Biogas Plant

• Bio-gas is produced through a bio-chemical process in which certain types of bacteria convert the biological wastes into useful bio-gas. Since the useful gas originates from a biological process, it has been termed as bio-gas. Methane gas is the main constituent of biogas.
• Some of the most popular biomass choices are crop residues, municipal and industrial sewage, agricultural material, livestock manures, seaweed, food-processing, and paper wastes, but the list of raw materials used is significantly longer.
• Biogas is 100% renewable and carbon-neutral, as its combustion doesn’t produce new carbon dioxide. Moreover, the production process prevents the release of methane into the atmosphere, with a positive impact on the environment.

Bio-CNG

• Bio-CNG or bio-compressed natural gas, also known as sustainable natural gas or biomethane, is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and having a methane concentration of 90% or greater. As the gas is derived from natural and renewable sources, it is also termed renewable natural gas (RNG).

What is bioenergy?

• Bioenergy is a kind of renewable energy derived when biomass fuels are combusted. Biomass fuel originates from organic material such as crop residues, waste derived from domestic activities, etc. 

• According to a study conducted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India can generate about 750 million metric tonnes of biomass per year. 

• It further said that 14 GW of power can be generated through bagasse-based cogeneration.