Indian Biogas Association (IBA) says biogas sector clocks ₹1,850 cr investments at REI Expo

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has revealed that investments totalling Rs 1,850 crore have been pledged to the biogas sector during the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2024. The much touted expo was held from October 3-5 in Greater Noida.

At the recently concluded event, IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia held that the association had secured investment commitments totaling Rs 1,850 crore through joint ventures (JVs), memorandums of understanding (MoUs), and letters of intent (LoIs). IBA had secured participation of 47 exhibitors from 10 biogas-producing countries at the REI Expo.

These investments, which are expected to materialize within the next 2-3 years, reflect significant international interest, especially from nations like Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. “We have signed MoUs worth over Rs 900 crore for joint ventures and received close to 50 LoIs for establishing compressed biogas plants across India,” Kedia stated.

At the beginning of this year, IBA sought an investment of ₹30,000 crore in India to bolster the procurement of necessary machinery and equipment for biomass supply to compressed biogas (CBG) plants, with the aim of reducing LNG imports by 12 MMTA.

The REI Expo, one of India’s largest renewable energy events, showcased progress in bioenergy, solar, wind, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency technologies. Supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and key industry players, the Bio-Energy Pavilion 2024 created by IBA, was focused on accelerating India’s transition toward net-zero emissions.

IBA acts as a national platform for bioenergy operators, manufacturers, and planners. It collaborates with international organizations, such as the German Biogas Association, to promote the growth of India’s biogas sector.

IBA President Dr. A. R. Shukla praised the success of this year’s expo, acknowledging the strong involvement of MNRE and the participation of scientists from the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), Kapurthala, at the Bio-Energy Pavilion. Dr. Shukla emphasized the wide-ranging benefits of bioenergy and urged policymakers to unlock its potential for energy self-reliance.

Shukla also stressed that, with the right policy framework, the bioenergy sector could entirely replace fossil fuels.