Powering Progress: MNRE's New Bioenergy Boost for India

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has rolled out revised guidelines under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme (FY 2022–2026), aimed at advancing clean energy, streamlining processes, and fast-tracking the adoption of biomass technologies across India.

The revamped policy framework introduces major ease-of-doing-business reforms, particularly benefitting MSMEs. A key highlight is the replacement of expensive SCADA systems with IoT-based monitoring or quarterly data reporting, providing a cost-effective yet efficient compliance mechanism. Developers of briquette and pellet plants will also benefit from reduced paperwork, as the requirement for multiple clearance-related documents has been removed — simplifying and speeding up project execution.

In a further pro-business move, the previously mandatory two-year sale contract has been replaced by a general sale agreement, giving developers greater operational flexibility. The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) model has also been updated to a performance-based system, where projects achieving over 80% efficiency qualify for full financial support, while others receive assistance proportionally.

These strategic changes are expected to boost biomass utilization, support better stubble and agri-waste management, and accelerate progress toward India’s 2070 net-zero emissions goal.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.