Biogas

Enforce Odd-Even rule to encourage people to shift to clean fuels, EV: IBA

Indian Biogas Association has suggested enforcement of the odd-even rule for four wheelers in Delhi NCR to check air pollution and encourage people to shift to electric vehicles or those based on compressed biogas (CBG) or natural gas. Under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) 4 (with air quality index of over 450) measures, odd/even rule for four wheelers is imposed. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already imposed GRAP 3 measures with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category. Taking with PTI in an interaction, Indian Biogas Association (IBA) Chairman Gaurav Kedia said, "We recommend implementing the Odd-Even Rule for Petrol and Diesel Vehicles in the coming months so that a good impact can be seen for the air pollution levels in Delhi, and subsidy on EVs and CNG/CBG vehicles, as this will compel the citizens to shift to greener fuel alternatives. The air pollution situation in Delhi NCR worsens every winter, with the seasonal air quality index ...

REI Expo saw Rs 1,850 cr investments committed for biogas sector: IBA

Investments worth Rs 1,850 crore have been committed in the biogas sector during the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2024, held from October 3-5 in Greater Noida, a top official of Indian Biogas Association (IBA) said. "The IBA has secured anticipated investment commitments totaling Rs 1,850 crore through joint ventures (JVs), MoUs, and letters of intent (LoIs) at the recently concluded Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2024, held from October 3 to 5 in Greater Noida," IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia told PTI. Kedia said a total of 47 exhibitors representing 10 biogas producing nations took part in the REI Expo. These investments, set to be realised over 2-3 years, reflect strong international interest, particularly from countries such as Germany, Sweden, and the UK, he said. "We have signed MoUs (memorandum of understanding) worth over Rs 900 crore for joint ventures and received almost 50 LoIs (letter of intends) for establishing compressed biogas plants in India," Kedia said. Found

PM Modi inaugurates gaushala with Bio CNG plant, launches projects in MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 'Lal Tipara Gaushala' with Bio-CNG plant in Gwalior and launched various development projects of Rs 685 crore in Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Swachhta Diwas on Wednesday. Swachhta Diwas is observed on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) every year. The 'gaushala', or cow shelter, with the Bio-CNG plant that can produce three tonnes of natural gas per day using 100 tonnes of cow dung, has been set up in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), an official said. It is India's first modern and self-reliant gaushala, he said. The plant will also produce 20 tonnes of high-quality organic manure, the official said, adding the IOC will assist in the operation and maintenance of the plant. The gaushala was developed at a cost of Rs 32 crore from the corporate social responsibility fund of the IOC, and an additional one hectare of land has been reserved for its expansion, the official said. The prime minister a

IBA expects to attract Rs 1,600 cr investment for biogas sector at REI 2024

Indian Biogas Association (IBA) is expecting around Rs 1,600 crore investment in the sector during Renewable Energy India Expo (REI) 2024, beginning on Thursday. IBA, the country's leading body representing biogas operators, manufacturers, and plant planners, is optimistic about the opportunities the high-profile event will bring. Talking to PTI, IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia said, "REI 2024 is expected to see investment announcements of around Rs 1,600 crore in the biogas sector". He stated that the REI Expo 2024 is expected to attract 20 per cent more participation compared to last year. Kedia emphasised the vast untapped potential of the biogas sector. He pointed out that, despite its current contribution to the energy mix being less than one per cent, the sector is poised for substantial growth and could play a pivotal role in India's energy future by 2030. The association is confident that the expo will generate significant momentum for the biogas industry. The Bio-Energy Pavil

NexGen Energia to invest Rs 15K cr to open 5,000 green diesel, CBG pumps

Green energy solutions company NexGen Energia plans a Rs 15,000 crore investment to open 5,000 green diesel and compressed biogas (CBG) pumps in the country over the next 10 years. The Noida-based company recently inaugurated its first CBG pump in Mau district in Uttar Pradesh, marking its entry to execute engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services in the clean energy sector. "The company's commitment to clean energy goes far beyond this single pump. Plans are afoot to open a total of 5,000 green diesel and CBG pumps across the country in multiple phases over the next 10 years, with each pump costing around Rs 3 crore. In this manner, we are set to invest Rs 15,000 crore in the green energy sector," NexGen Energia Chairman Piyush Dwivedi told PTI. "Furthermore, this initiative will create approximately 5,000 new entrepreneurs and provide direct and indirect employment to over 10 lakh people. Our goal is to make India self-reliant in the green energy sector, thereby ..

Research, sharing practices crucial for high-yield sugarcane: Pralhad Joshi

Research and sharing of best practices among nations are crucial for high-yield, disease-resistant sugarcane varieties and innovative uses of the commodity, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday. The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution also said that sugar production is expected to be good this year depending upon the rains. He made the remarks at the 64th International Sugar Organisation (ISO) Council Meeting in the national capital. "Sharing best practices and fostering research collaboration across nations is vital. Let us work together to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant sugarcane varieties, explore innovative uses for sugarcane, and promote sustainable practices throughout the value chain," Joshi said. He said that advanced technologies across the sugar value chain should be increasingly adapted as they will be crucial for reducing waste and ensuring the sustainability of the industry. The nation is committed to actively collaborating wit

Gruner to set up compressed biogas plant in Gujarat at Rs 220-cr investment

Gruner Renewable Energy on Monday said it will set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Gujarat at an estimated cost of Rs 220 crore. The CBG plant in Navsari is expected to produce 44 tonnes of biogas per day (TPD) using cost-effective feedstocks such as paddy, pressmud, canetrash and of municipal solid waste (MSW). This equates to an annual production of over 16,000 tonnes of biogas, Gruner Renewable Energy said in a statement. "Gruner Renewable Energy, in collaboration with a leading business conglomerate, is all set to establish Asia's largest compressed biogas plant in Navsari, Gujarat. The estimated cost of this plant is approximately Rs 220 crore," it said. As India works towards decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, opening of plants like Navsari is going to play a critical role in meeting our goals of championing sustainable energy solutions, Gruner Renewable Energy Founder and CEO Utkarsh Gupta said. The establishment of CBG plants will significantly reduce the country's

IBA demands Rs 90/kg fixed rate for procurement of compressed biogas

Indian Biogas Association (IBA) is demanding a fixed rate of Rs 90 per kg for procurement of biogas by oil and gas marketing companies, from the government, citing environmental benefits and to boost the sector. The IBA will soon put up the suggestion about fixing the procurement price of the biogas, along with other recommendations, for boosting the sector before the newly appointed Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi. While the retail selling price of compressed biogas (CBG) is aligned with CNG (compressed natural gas), the procurement price is unfortunately linked to the retail selling price (RSP) of CNG, IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia told PTI. Consequently, he said with CNG prices in New Delhi hovering at Rs 75-80 per kg, the procurement price of CBG by oil and gas marketing companies falls to Rs 59 per kg (excluding GST). "This pricing structure fails to recognise the inherent environmental value of CBG. Ideally, CBG should command a premium (of Rs ..

Maruti Suzuki to invest Rs 450 crore in renewable energy initiative

Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 450 crore over a span of three years towards commissioning renewable energy projects linked to solar power and biogas. In FY24, the company invested Rs 120.8 crore in the vertical. The company will increase this investment around four-fold to Rs 450 crore spread over three years starting FY25, it said in a statement. "As we ramp up our production capacity from around 2 million to 4 million by 2030-31, we are also accelerating our efforts to increase the share of sustainable and renewable energy sources across our operations," Maruti Suzuki Managing Director & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said. Just as the company is bringing multiple technologies in products, it would also focus on multiple renewable energy sources to make the operations greener, he added. The company said it has commenced a pilot biogas plant at its Manesar facility in FY25, harnessing the untapped potential of in-house food waste. The plant is designed to produce .

Nexgen Energia to invest Rs 3,000 cr to set up CBG plant in Gujarat

Sustainable energy solutions company Nexgen Energia on Wednesday said it will invest around Rs 3,000 crore to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Gujarat. The company presented a proposal for its investments in the state during a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. After the commencement of the CBG plant, it will start supplying compressed biogas directly to the CNG pumps, the company said. "Nexgen Energia will invest more than Rs 3,000 crore and will set up a CNG Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant in Gujarat and apart from this, it will also set up EV units and other related setups in the state. A proposal for this has been presented to the Gujarat government, and soon, we will sign an MoU for this. "Organic fertiliser that would be made in the process of making CNG from stubble and waste through the CBG plant, will be made available to the farmers from whom the stubble would be procured," Nexgen Energia MD Piyush Dwivedi said. An investment of Rs 3,000 cror

Indian Biogas Association to investment Rs 30K cr for import reduction

Indian Biogas Association has recommended an investment of Rs 30,000 crore for machinery and equipment required for biomass supply to compressed biogas plants to ensure 12 MMTA of LNG import reduction. "Utilising agricultural residues like paddy straw for bioenergy production and soil enrichment instead of burning those offers a dual benefit as it provides renewable energy sources while enhancing soil health," said Indian Biogas Association Chairman Gaurav Kedia. However, he pointed out that there are obstacles to procurement, such as unappealing economics, which makes farmers prefer to burn rather than sell off the field straw promptly. Due to the low density of straw, which increases the expenses associated with its collection, storage, and transportation, he stated, "Improving logistics is not a feasible solution. Government intervention is essential to encourage the adoption of necessary equipment, such as subsidising combine harvesters capable of efficiently gathering ...

TruAlt Bioenergy to expand capacity, invest Rs 600 cr for setting up plants

TruAlt Bioenergy, which is among the largest biofuel players, is planning to expand its capacity by 2.7 lakh litres per day by next fiscal and will invest around Rs 600 crore to set up more plants. The Bengaluru-based company is also expecting around 30 per cent revenue growth this fiscal year. TruAlt is primarily into biofuels such as 1G ethanol, 2G ethanol, compressed biogas, sustainable aviation fuel, fermented organic manure, and green hydrogen. It operates five 1G ethanol units with a capacity of 2 million litres per day, making it the country's largest ethanol producer while its compressed biogas capacity is 10 tonne per day. "We are planning to augment our biofuel capacity by 2.7 lakh tonne per day. We will set up 10 more plants, taking our total to 15 and we envisage around Rs 600 crore investment towards this and these plants will come up in Bijapur in Karnataka and Pune and should be commissioned next fiscal," Vijay Nirani, founder and managing director of TruAlt, told ..

100 new biogas plants will soon be established in UP: Hardeep Puri

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said that 100 new biogas plants will soon be established in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow before going to the inauguration of the Compressed Bio Gas Plant in Budaun, Puri said that in the last seven years, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has shed the label 'BIMARU' (sick) state and has done excellent work in every sector. "Today a new compressed biogas plant is going to be inaugurated in Budaun and the foundation stone of new compressed biogas plants will also be laid in eight other districts of the state," he said. Puri said that the process of land selection for setting up 37 plants is complete. According to a statement by the UP government, Puri said that the Budaun plant, developed on 50 acres with an investment of about Rs 135 crore, will produce about 14 tonne of compressed biogas every day, and will be instrumental in stubble management. Earlier, ...

Indian Biogas Association pitches for incentives to promote bio-fertilisers

Industry body Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has demanded a host of incentives including a dedicated Rs 1.4 lakh crore 'Biogas-Fertilizer Fund' that aims to promote the use of organic fertilizers for improved soil and human health. It said the key to accelerating the Bio-CNG/CBG (compressed natural gas/biogas) industry's growth lies in crafting pro-biofertilizer policies. This includes favorable regulations, tax exemptions, financing incentives, and accessible credit options, with a spotlight on fermented organic manure, it noted. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present an interim budget for financial year 2024-25 on February 1. In a pre-budget memorandum submitted earlier this month to the finance ministry, the IBA has proposed to set up a new 'Sustainable Biogas Plant Fertilizer-Based Cultivation Programme' (SuBiCulP) with a dedicated Rs 1.4 lakh crore fund for five years. This all-encompassing initiative, based on SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable ...

Centre announces phased introduction of biogas blending for domestic use

The mandatory phased introduction will start at 1% for use in automobiles and households from April 2025, it said. The share of mandatory blending will then be increased to around 5% by 2028

India can reduce fossil fuel dependence, cut import by $29 bn via biogas

Replacing natural gas consumption with biogas and biomethane incrementally to 20 per cent by 2030 can help India cut liquefied natural gas import bills by USD 29 billion between financial years 2025 and 2030, according to a new report. The report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), underscores the environmental advantages of expanding biogas projects, including waste management, reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhanced renewable energy production. According to the report's author Purva Jain, an energy analyst at IEEFA, "Biogas has the potential to replace natural gas and other high-emission fossil fuels. By eliminating carbon dioxide (CO2) and impurities like hydrogen sulfide, its methane content can be upgraded to 90 per cent, making it calorifically equivalent to natural gas. This upgraded biogas, known as biomethane, is pipeline-ready and can be integrated into gas grids as a non-fossil gas, she said. "By adopting appropriate

Rs 550 crore biogas, biodiesel projects get Uttar Pradesh govt nod

The policy is aimed at promoting bioenergy based on agricultural waste to aid ecological conservation and arrest the loss of soil fertility due to stubble burning

RE India Expo to bring investments worth Rs 1,500 cr in biogas segment: IBA

Industry body Indian Biogas Association (IBA) expects around Rs 1,500 crore investment announcement in the biogas segment during 3-day long Renewable Energy India Expo 2023, beginning on Tuesday. The IBA comprises operators, manufacturers, and planners of biogas plants. "Renewable Energy India Expo 2023 (REI) will bring an opportunity worth Rs 1,500 crore. The participation is expected to increase by 25 per cent from last year," an IBA statement said. According to the statement, major Indian conglomerates like Reliance Industries and Adani Solar will be part of the REI. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and National Institute of Bio Energy is supporting the biogas pavilion. The REI is scheduled to be held from October 4 to 6, 2023 at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The expo is one of the largest trade expositions and events, focusing on renewable energy (bio-energy, solar, and wind) and energy efficient technologies including electric vehicles and bat

Indian Oil approves 2 joint ventures to set up compressed biogas plants

The two joint ventures will be formed with IOCL or one of its subsidiaries. In both cases, the two partners will have an equal stake of 50 per cent each

GOBARdhan initiative: Govt launches registration portal for biogas plants

A unified registration portal for GOBARdhan has been introduced to streamline the registration of compressed bio-gas (CBG) and biogas plants in the country, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said on Monday. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), in a statement, said that more than 1,163 biogas plants and 426 CBG plants registered on the portal are eligible for assistance under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme of the Department of Fertilizers. According to new guidelines, MDA of Rs 1500/MT will be granted for sale of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM), and Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) produced at biogas and CBG plants under the GOBARdhan initiative. The GOBARdhan initiative aims to get a boost as the new guideline will increase the uptake of organic fertilizer produced from the plants, the statement said "Registration of manufacturing plants on the unified GOBARdhan portal of the DDWS and adhering to Fertilizer Cont