7.3 MT of paddy straw can generate Rs 270 crore biogas, claims IBA

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has held that India could unlock biogas worth Rs 270 crore every year by utilising the 7.3 million tonnes of paddy straw currently burnt by farmers. In an official statement, IBA noted that modern anaerobic digestion technologies can efficiently process this agricultural residue into Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), offering a sustainable alternative to imported natural gas.

According to the IBA, paddy straw—often viewed as an agricultural waste—is rich in cellulose, making it highly suitable for bioethanol production as well. This could potentially contribute to import substitution valued at around Rs 1,600 crore. The association further highlighted that even the lignin fraction of the straw, which constitutes about 20 per cent, can be converted into high-value products such as polymers, resins, activated carbon and graphene.

IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia said that supportive policies could attract investments of about Rs 37,500 crore and enable the commissioning of 750 CBG plants across India by 2028–29. “This represents a significant step toward reducing LNG imports and strengthening energy security through domestic resources,” he said. Additionally, emerging goals such as achieving 1 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending for international flights by 2027 are expected to further expand the bioeconomy.

The association also underscored the environmental burden of stubble burning. Each tonne of burnt straw releases approximately 1,460 kg of CO₂, 60 kg of carbon monoxide and 3 kg of particulate matter into the atmosphere. Diverting this biomass to biogas plants, it said, would curb pollution while generating valuable energy and materials.

The IBA also advocated complementary measures such as large-scale plantation drives, Miyawaki forests and green highway corridors. Citing Delhi’s plantation of over 2.5 million saplings in 2023, it said such “green shields” can reduce pollution, counter the urban heat-island effect and enhance long-term environmental resilience.