National Bio Energy Programme

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently organised a seminar on the National Bio Energy Programme in New Delhi in collaboration with UNIDO and the GEF.

Introduction

• Biomass is simply organic matter, which means it is derived from anything that is or has been alive, such as animal waste, crop waste, garden waste, and so on.
• India has an abundance of renewable energy resources, which should be promoted in any way possible.
• Animal waste, kitchen leftovers, crop residue, market waste, and faecal sludge are all examples of bio-waste generated in rural India.
• Biogas is an environmentally friendly fuel, and its use helps to reduce carbon emissions and pollution.

The seminar's main highlights

• They unveiled the National Bio Energy Programme Compendium and launched the Biourja and Biogas portals.
• The BioUrja portal was created as a one-stop shop for registering and submitting online applications for Central Financial Assistance (CFA) grants to Waste to Energy projects, Biomass Briquette/Pellet manufacturing plants, and Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration projects.
• The Biogas Portal provides a high-level overview of biogas-related information.
• It emphasised the concept of 'kachre-se-kanchan' and described waste as a source of wealth.

About National Bioenergy Programme:

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced the implementation of the National Bioenergy Programme in November 2022.
• MNRE has extended the National Bioenergy Programme from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
• The program's implementation has been recommended in two stages:
• The first phase of the programme has been approved, with a budget of Rs. 858 crores.

The following sub-schemes will be included in the National Bioenergy Programme:

Waste to Energy Initiative

• It is a Program on Energy from Urban, Industrial, and Agricultural Wastes/Residues designed to assist in the establishment of large Biogas, BioCNG, and Power plants.
• The programme will be implemented by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).

Biomass Initiative

• It is a Scheme to Support Briquettes and Pellets Manufacturing and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) Based Cogeneration in Industries to support the establishment of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.

Biogas Initiative

• To assist in the establishment of small and medium-sized biogas plants in rural areas.

Bioenergy's Benefits:

• It contributes to clean cooking by using biogas.
• Co-firing in thermal power plants using biomass pellets and briquettes, as well as BioCNG for transportation.
• Establishment of biogas plants for clean cooking fuel, lighting, and meeting users' thermal and small power needs, resulting in GHG reduction, improved sanitation, women empowerment, and rural job creation.
• Organically enhanced Bio-manure: The digested slurry from biogas plants is a rich source of manure that farmers can use to supplement or reduce their use of chemical fertilisers.
• It is carbon neutral: As a byproduct of photosynthesis, biomass fuels emit the same amount of carbon into the atmosphere as plants absorb during their life cycle.
• It reduces reliance on fossil fuels: Not only are fossil fuels limited in supply, but they also have environmental consequences, such as the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and the pollutants produced during extraction, transportation, and production.
• Less costly than fossil fuels: While fossil fuel production requires a significant investment in equipment such as oil drills, gas pipelines, and fuel collection, biomass technology is significantly less expensive. Manufacturers and producers can generate higher profits with less output.

Other advantages include:

• Support for national commitments to meet climate change targets
• Imports of natural gas and crude oil will be reduced.
• Protect yourself from fluctuations in the price of crude oil and natural gas.

Bioenergy's Drawbacks

• Biomass energy is inefficient compared to fossil fuels: Some biofuels, such as ethanol, are inefficient when compared to gasoline. To increase its efficiency, it must be fortified with fossil fuels.
• While biomass is carbon neutral, the use of animal and human waste increases the amount of methane gases, which are also harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the pollution produced by burning wood and other natural materials is comparable to that produced by burning coal and other types of energy resources.
• Can result in deforestation: Because wood is one of the most commonly used biomass energy sources, massive amounts of wood and other waste products must be burned to generate the desired amount of power. While there is currently enough wood waste, there is a risk of deforestation in the future.

Initiative by the government

• The Government of India launched GOBAR-Dhan in 2018 as part of the Biodegradable Waste Management component of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (SMB-G) to improve village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste.
• SATAT is a development initiative that aims to provide a Sustainable Alternative to Affordable Transportation for both vehicle users and farmers and entrepreneurs.
• This initiative has a lot of potential for improving municipal solid waste management and addressing the problem of polluted urban air caused

The Way Forward

• Rural household: The benefits of using surplus biomass should be passed on to rural households in the form of an additional source of income for farmers.
• The additional push in the form of a 20% higher standard CFA (central financial assistance) pattern for the north-eastern region and Gaushala/shelter was required at the time to create inclusiveness in a practical manner.