Renewable energy ministry provides Rs 858 cr for phase-I to continue Bio Energy Programme

New Delhi: The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy on Monday said it will continue National Bio Energy Programme till 2025-26 with a budget outlay of Rs 858 crore for the first phase. The programme will aid the use of huge surplus biomass, cattle dung, and industrial and urban biowaste available in the country for energy recovery. "The MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The programme was recommended for implementation in two phases. Phase-I has been approved with a budget outlay of Rs 858 crore," MNRE said in a statement. "The National Bioenergy Programme will include the three Sub-schemes: Waste to Energy Programme, Biomass Programme and Biogas Programme," it added.

Waste to Energy Programme to support setting up of large biogas & power plants

"The Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) will support the setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW (municipal solid waste) to power projects). The Waste to Energy programme under the umbrella scheme of the National Bioenergy Programme is a welcome step," said MNRE in a statement.

Biomass Programme to generate power in rural areas

Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and solid waste Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) will support the setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse-based power generation projects. The biogas programme will also support the setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

One major support extended by the MNRE has been central financial assistance provided for setting up Bioenergy projects, such as Biogas, BioCNG, and power from urban, Industrial and Agricultural Waste / Residues for reducing their capital cost/ interest on loans, therefore, increasing project viability.

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"The well-thought-out scheme shall help in creating the whole investor-friendly ecosystem based on a circular economy, where biogas plays the central role in impacting the environment, job creation, reduction in crude oil imports, promoting organic cropping, and even energy independence in a positive manner," said Gaurav Kedia, Chairman, Indian Biogas Association.

"The extra push in the form of a 20 percent higher standard CFA (central financial assistance) pattern for the northeastern region and Gaushala/shelter was the need of the time to create inclusiveness in an applied manner," he added.

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