The buzz around bioeconomy is no longer just talk—it’s action, innovation, and a bold new frontier for India’s energy future. At the curtain raiser for the India Bio Energy and Tech Expo, the stage was set for a green revolution powered not by fossil fuels, but by farm waste, algae, and next-gen biofuels. From clean cooking fuels to industrial-scale bioenergy solutions, the discussions spotlighted how India is turning biomass into big business, and climate action into economic opportunity. As global eyes turn toward sustainable growth, India’s bioeconomy is stepping into the limelight—not just as a climate solution, but as a vibrant engine for rural development, tech innovation, and green jobs

Speaking at the conference, Atul Mulay, Chairman, Bioenergy Committee, IFGE President, Bioenergy, Praj Industries, mentioned how PM Modi has been a strong advocate for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), projecting it as a game-changer in India’s journey toward a greener, more self-reliant future in terms of takeoff of India’s first commercial flight powered by SAF made from homegrown ethanol—a moment he called a turning point for sustainable aviation. Mulay underscored that this wasn’t just a technological breakthrough, but a bold statement of intent: that India is ready to lead the way in slashing carbon emissions and securing its energy future through indigenous innovation. “India is making significant strides in its ethanol production, with a notable shift towards utilizing low-carbon intensity (CI) feedstocks”, stated Mulay. “India’s ambitious biofuel drive is hitting turbulence—not from a lack of innovation, but from the absence of a national certifying body to ensure quality and sustainability. Without a dedicated agency to set and enforce standards, biofuels like biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are facing trust issues in the market ”, he added. From uneven fuel quality to consumer skepticism, this regulatory gap is slowing down momentum in sectors that should be soaring. As India eyes a greener energy future, the need for a robust certification framework has never been more urgent.

According to experts at the panel, in a major shift for India’s biofuel landscape, grain-based ethanol has overtaken sugarcane as the leading source of production for the first time in the 2023–24 supply year. Maize and even damaged foodgrains now make up more than half of the ethanol blended into fuel—marking a turning point in how the country approaches green energy. This strategic pivot reflects the government’s push to move away from water-thirsty sugarcane and embrace more sustainable, climate-resilient alternatives. It’s a win-win that not only supports cleaner fuel but also strengthens food and water security in the long run.

With COO, Indianoil Adani Ventures, Atul Kharate, mentioning ethanol blending as the new buzz word, Dr S S Thipse, Senior Deputy Director, Automotive Research Association of India, spoke on enhancement strategies for fuel efficiency and identified operational bottlenecks too. “Ethanol is C2 Hydrocarbon, while gasoline is C8; hence the drop in fuel efficiency”, he mentioned. With Government aiming to minimize its dependency on fossil fuels, Dr Thipse recommended the utilisation of feedstocks and biocellulose based ethanol for a greener tomorrow. “India’s biofuel sector is experiencing a significant transformation, with a growing emphasis on E85 (85 per cent ethanol) and E100 (100 per cent ethanol) fuels. This shift is driven by both government initiatives and proactive measures from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)”, he mentioned. Despite the progress, hurdles persist—especially around ethanol’s lower energy content compared to traditional fuels. To tackle concerns over fuel efficiency and operating costs, automakers have called for differential pricing on E85 to make it more competitively priced. The government is actively considering these proposals to help ease the shift toward ethanol-powered vehicles.

Private companies are stepping up in a big way, with Praj Industries leading the charge through its cutting-edge “Enfinity” technology. Their 2G ethanol pilot plant can transform diverse agricultural residues like rice straw and corn stover into valuable products—ranging from bioethanol and bio-CNG to a variety of bio-based chemicals. This innovative approach is fueling a circular bioeconomy, turning waste into wealth and driving India’s sustainable energy future. Rajagopal Manobar, Head TS & Innovation, MEIA Novonesis mentioned 2G ethanol as the tip of new wave, thereby supporting government intiative to boost the development of 2G ethanol bio-refineries, utilizing lignocellulosic biomass like rice and wheat straw, bagasse, and corn stover as key feedstocks.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Vasundhara Sen, Head, Policy & Regulatory, Thermax, highlighted key instruments to drive positive CBG market economics in terms of gas price, revision, introduction of gas certification mechanism, identifying biomass clusters to streamline feedstock collection and distribution, accelerate the development of city gas distribution (CGD) networks to enable the injection of CBG into existing infrastructure and allocating land for decentralized storage facilities to establish biomass depots. “Current revision for gas price is till October 2025, we are hopeful that holding period gets extended further”, she added.

A resilient supply chain is the backbone of India’s ethanol success story. From the farm to the fuel pump, every link must be integrated, efficient, and future-ready. On this note, Ashwin Save, Co-Founder, BiofuelCircle, advocated for establishment of resilient supply chains from farm to industry, with key agenda dedicated to “Phygital Infra”. Besides this, incentivizing farmers to supply surplus sugarcane, maize, and paddy straw; development of decentralized biomass collection centers; development of feedstock corridors and low-cost transport models through PPP and establishment of tracking mechanism to map out entire carbon lifecycle was also recommended.

Suchetana Choudhury

suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com