Govt mulls `10k-cr bioenergy mission from next fiscal

New Delhi, June 14: The Centre is planning to launch an integrated bioenergy mission with an outlay of `10,000 crore from next fiscal to enhance use of bio-fuels like ethanol and biogas for reducing consumption of fossil fuels.

“The ministry of new and renewable energy is working on an integrated bioenergy mission with an indicative outlay of `10,000 crore from 2017-18 to 202122,” a senior official said.

The objective of the mission would be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as agreed in the nationally determined contributions at COP21.

The Centre wants to achieve this objective by progressive blending or substitution of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol, diesel, natural gas and LPG with biomass pellets, bioethanol, bio-diesel, biomethane, and similar green fuels, both for electrical and non-electrical uses.

The official added the National Institute of Bio-Energy at Kapurthala is likely to be upgraded and developed into a world-class institution to support the mission.

According to the official, the government had decided to constitute a technical committee under AK Dhussa, former adviser, MNRE, to formulate the action points into schemes, and thence to formulate the base document for the mission.

“It was also decided to float an RPF for hiring a consultant firm for developing the integrated bio-energy mission document and schemes under it,” the official said.

Ethanol blending is the practice of mixing petrol with ethanol. At present, it is compulsory to blend 5% ethanol with petrol.

The objective would be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as agreed in the nationally determined contributions at COP21