National Bioenergy Programme - Features, Advantages and Potential in India

Understanding the National Bioenergy Programme

Since the 1980s, the Indian government has been encouraging the use of bioenergy. The goal is to effectively utilise the country's vast biomass resources, which include cattle dung, industrial waste, and urban biowaste.

What exactly is bioenergy?

• Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that is produced when biomass fuels are burned. These fuels are derived from organic materials such as agricultural waste and household waste.

India's bioenergy potential:

• A study by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) suggests that India can produce approximately 750 million metric tonnes of biomass every year.
• The study also indicates that India has the potential to generate up to 14 GW of power using bagasse-based cogeneration technology.

Key Features of the National Bioenergy Programme

The National Bioenergy Programme, scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026 , will be carried out in two phases .

• The first phase has been allocated a budget of Rs.858 crores.
• The programme consists of three distinct sub-programmes :
  • Waste to Energy Programme: This initiative aims to generate energy from waste from various sectors. It's a prime example of the circular economy concept. The programme will use waste from industries, households, and agriculture to produce energy.
  • Biomass Programme: This initiative will support the production of fuel pellets and briquettes for power generation and non-bagasse-based power production.
  • Biogas Programme: This initiative will assist families in setting up small and medium-sized biogas plants in rural areas. Biogas is generated when organic waste materials, such as cattle dung, farm biomass, kitchen waste, industrial waste, poultry droppings, and municipal waste, undergo anaerobic digestion in a biogas plant.

The Benefits of Bioenergy

Bioenergy embodies the circular economy concept, where waste from one industry becomes a resource for another. This approach promotes the efficient use of resources for maximal benefit .

• Bioenergy is a renewable energy source, which means it is available in vast quantities to fulfil our energy needs.
• The accessibility of bioenergy is wide-ranging and varied , allowing for energy generation with minimal investment.
• An additional benefit of bioenergy is its potential to reduce waste and improve cleanliness in India, contributing to the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) initiative.

Conclusion: The effective implementation of the National Bioenergy Programme could lead to a more efficient use of waste for energy production, contributing to the better utilisation of India's resources.