@ Vikash Sharma | Sr Journalist
New Delhi – The World Biogas Association (WBA) hosted the first day of its 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 titled,
“Global Biofuels Alliance: Catalysing the Clean Energy Transition”;
“Financing Biogas: Incentives, Investments, and Carbon Markets”;
“CEO Forum: CBG Offtake and Supply Chain
”; “Biogas Sector in India: Case studies by the State Governments/Agencies/ Municipalities/ Public Private Partnerships
”; “#MakingBiogasHappen Programme: Regulatory Framework and Certification to stimulate India’s Biogas Industry”; and
“India’s Decentralized Community and Household Biogas plants: Challenges and Opportunities”.
Each session shed light on the ways India can harness biogas to meet its environmental and economic goals.
The first day of the Congress highlighted India’s pivotal moment in its journey toward sustainable development, showcasing biogas as a renewable energy solution to tackle climate change and promote green growth. With rapid urban expansion, India has a unique opportunity to integrate sustainable solutions to address air pollution, water scarcity, and extreme weather. The government has already demonstrated its commitment through pilot projects in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, aiming to reduce emissions and generate green jobs. However, challenges such as distribution network limitations, pricing challenges and technological gaps. The sessions emphasized the need to overcome these barriers by improving infrastructure and enhancing technological efficiency, with both public and private sectors working together to position biogas as a key player in India’s energy future, strengthening its global leadership in sustainability.
Furthermore, the stakeholders across various sectors in the industry aim to join forces in fulfilling the commitment to creating a National Biogas Roadmap by COP30 in 2025. The roadmap will establish a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework, support capacity-building efforts, and address supply chain requirements essential for scaling biogas production in India.
“We are at a critical point where biogas holds immense potential for India’s green energy future,” said Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India. “Biogas not only addresses our energy needs but also offers solutions for environmental challenges and employment generation. With the government’s initiatives, such as the 5,000 CBG plants under the SATAT scheme, India has the opportunity to lead globally in biogas. This is not just about transitioning to cleaner energy—it’s about creating a sustainable future for millions of our citizens.”
Charlotte Morton OBE, WBA Chief Executive, 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.”
The two-day Congress will continue to explore global strategies to boost biogas production, such as integrating bioethanol production from sugarcane with biogas production. The event aims to de-risk investments and develop regulatory frameworks to ensure efficient waste recycling and scale biogas opportunities by 2030.
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