India Bio Energy & Tech Expo 2024
The India Bio Energy & Tech Expo 2024 was held from September 2-4 at Yashobhoomi, IICC, Dwarka, New Delhi, focusing on the burgeoning bioenergy sector. Areas of emphasis included Compressed Biogas (CBG), Biomass pellets, Ethanol, Bio-Diesel, Waste to Energy, and Bio-Mobility. The event served as a platform for showcasing advancements in green energy and for providing policy feedback to the Indian central government.
Prominent Attendees and Sessions:
- Keynote speeches were delivered by notable ministers, including Shri Hardeep Singh Puri (Petroleum and Natural Gas), Shri Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport and Highways), and the Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy.
- Sessions were chaired by leaders from government, industry, and academia, such as Y. B. Ramakrishna (IFGE), George Thomas (MoPNG), and Sangita Katsure (MNRE).
Day 1 Highlights:
- CEOs Round Table: Led by Minister Nitin Gadkari, this session discussed Europe-India collaboration in technology and global standards, with interventions by experts like Patrick Crehan and Poul V Jensen.
- Plenary Session 1: Evolving Policy Ecosystem in India: Global Biofuel Alliance Towards Globalization: The session, moderated by Atul Kharate (IndianOil Adani Ventures), featured speakers like Poul V Jensen (EBTC) and Jennifer Holmgren (Lanzatech) on resilient supply chains and harmonized standards.
Day 2 Highlights:
- Track 3: Potential in Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Presided by Dr. S. S. V. Ramakumar (SAFE, TERI), with Patrick Crehan introducing the EU-India roadmap.
- Track 1: Potential in CBG Sector: Varun Karad (RE Energy Dynamics) and Ashok Koshla (Development Alternatives) addressed supply chain challenges and regional development needs.
- Track 3: Possibilities of 2G Ethanol: Patrick Crehan emphasized the importance of sustainability reporting and certification related to new legislative needs.
The event frequently highlighted key challenges in scaling up biofuel production. These challenges are widely recognized and include the high cost of second-generation (2G) biofuels based on existing technologies, limited production scale, financing for green energy projects, and the organization of feedstock supply chains. Overall, the expo facilitated dialogue on industrial pain points and policy development, promoting international collaboration to advance India's bioenergy sector.