India added 2,362 MW of biomass and 228 MW of waste-to-energy capacity in Last 10 years | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    India added 2,362 MW of biomass and 228 MW of waste-to-energy capacity in Last 10 years

    Posted 18 Dec 2025

    2 min read

    Article Summary

    Article Summary

    India added 2,590 MW of biomass and waste-to-energy capacity in the last decade, supporting rural income, modern bioenergy technologies, and ambitious policy targets like ethanol blending and biofuel initiatives.

    Apart from this 2.88 lakh biogas plants were also installed at various locations in the country.

    • Ministry of New and Renewable Energy supports installation of Bioenergy Projects in the country under National Bioenergy Programme (NBP), Phase-I (Notified in 2022).

    About National Bioenergy Programme:

    • Period: Phase 1 - (2021-22 to 2025-26)
    • Objective: Utilize surplus biomass (primarily from rural areas) for power generation, while providing additional income for rural households.
    • Program comprise of the following sub-schemes:
      • Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues)
      • Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries)
      • Biogas Programme: Biogas is primarily CH₄ and CO₂ with traces of N₂, H₂, H₂S, and O₂.

    Bioenergy and its status in India:

    • Bioenergy is a source of energy from the organic material that makes up plants, known as biomass (e.g. wood, dung or charcoal). 
    • Modern bioenergy involves processed biomass and advanced technologies to produce cleaner and more efficient energy. e.g. liquid biofuels, biogas, etc.
    • Total Installed capacity: 11.6GW (Nov. 2025)
      • Modern bioenergy today accounts for 13% of India's total final energy consumption and is expected to grow by up to 45% between 2023 and 2030.

    Other Initiatives taken for Bioenergy promotion

    • National Policy on Biofuels (2018, Revised 2022): Sets various targets e.g. 5% biodiesel blending by 2030, 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) by 2025/26
    • Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana: financial support for advanced biofuels projects.
    • SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) Initiative
    • GOBAR-Dhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources)
    • Tags :
    • National Bioenergy Programme
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