India must avoid making mistakes made elsewhere in Biogas Sector: Charlotte Morton

How can the World Biogas Association support the growth of the biogas industry in India?

Charlotte Morton: The World Biogas Association brings the experience of many countries that have developed biogas or bio-CNG market with lessons that they have learnt as well as the development of standardized policies & regulations that can really help & support the sector here. The speed is the essence. It’s very important that same mistakes that other countries have made are not made here.

What challenges do you find here & how India should overcome?

Charlotte Morton: There are quite a very few biogas plants built here in India but they are not meeting the level of standards to ensure they are performing well. So there are lots of lessons that can be brought from overseas like our certification scheme that can set minimal standards which ensures that every biogas plant is performing well. The Indian Government has developed a lot of policies designed to support this industry but still there are gaps. What is essential is to bring the stakeholders to map out those challenges and agree to solutions. Biogas industry involves multiple stakeholders that are not used to working together. So, when you develop a roadmap, you have to bring those stakeholders together. They start to understand other stakeholders’ perspectives and then agree to the solutions that work for all. I think that is most imperative.

Do you think Indian policy makers are doing enough?

Charlotte Morton: I think they have been doing a lot. One of the key issues for the biogas industry, not just for India but for everywhere, is that it involves multiple government departments; And government departments in any country are not taking to each other, let alone all the relevant stakeholders. They must come together and agree to a complete set of policies, regulations & standards to ensure that the industry has what it needs to put successful projects together & get finance going forward.

How would you address the high costs of technology imports, especially when Indian industries are so price-sensitive?

Charlotte Morton: The plants developed in India are not working very well. So, it is important to use technologies that meet minimal standards that can deliver the job. For example, there are some upgrading technologies for leaking biomethane which is bad for the environment and the developer. Leaking is like money going out of door. So if some technologies cost more money, we need to ensure that the pricing is changed to ensure that economics work.

Do you think growing feed for biofuels can cause food shortages anywhere in future?

Charlotte Morton: Personally, I don’t think so. In the first instance, there are so many million tons of organic wastes that need to be used. Sometimes, crops can be more energetic and therefore can be selected above waste. But that’s a question of ensuring that pricing properly reflects the external benefits that are being delivered.  So for preventing methane from being emitting from organic waste, you are preventing pollution. There should be a financial reward for that. This could be delivered through carbon markets in particular. Either way, it is particularly possible to grow energy crops and food crops in a complementary way to ensure that there is enough food and enough energy.

What does the future of biogas look like in India?

Charlotte Morton: I think with right alignment of policies, regulations & standards, with right alignment or agreement of all stakeholders, this is the most exciting industry that India would have seen in the few years.

What have you gathered in this visit from here?

Charlotte Morton: It’s really positive, I have to say. There is very open discussion on challenges which is not something I have experienced in the past. There is enthusiasm for finding solutions to those challenges. I was particularly excited by Amitabh Kant’s presentation as he made the case even better that I can about how exciting the biogas industry can be for India and reflecting his willingness to ensure that the government can support that growth. Prime Minister Modi is already supportive to the industry.

What’s your message for the Indian entrepreneurs?

Charlotte Morton: Please come & join this biogas sector. It will be one of the most exciting sectors in India; actually globally. It’s a fantastic opportunity and we need as many entrepreneurs as we can possibly get. So, come & join.