Biogas for Energy Security

Against the backdrop of West Asia tensions, India is accelerating biogas adoption to strengthen energy security, reduce imports and promote sustainability.

About Biogas

Biogas: A renewable fuel comprising methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and trace gases produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste.
Compressed Biogas (CBG): Purified and compressed biogas, chemically equivalent to CNG, used in transport, cooking, electricity generation, industries, and Piped Natural Gas (PNG).

Current Facts and Data

Energy Dependence: India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil, making alternative fuels critical for energy security.
SATAT Progress: Against a target of 5,000 CBG plants by 2023, only 132 plants were operational as of 3 June 2026.
CBG Blending Target: India has mandated 1% CBG blending from FY26, increasing progressively to 5% by FY29.

Need for Biogas for Energy Security

Import Reduction: CBG reduces dependence on imported crude oil, strengthening India’s energy security against volatile global fuel markets.
Supply Resilience: Around 90% of LPG imports transit Hormuz, making domestic CBG crucial during geopolitical disruptions.
Clean Diversification: Renewable CBG diversifies India’s energy mix, reducing fossil-fuel dependence while supporting cleaner transportation and industries.
Waste Utilisation: Converts agricultural residue and livestock waste into clean fuel, promoting circular economy and rural energy security.
Strategic Transition: Mandatory CBG blending from FY26 supports long-term energy independence following India’s successful 20% ethanol blending achievement.

Implications of Biogas on Environment and Agriculture

Biogas promotes environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience, but requires balanced feedstock policies to protect food security and biodiversity.

Positive Implications

Waste Management: Converts crop residue and livestock waste into clean energy, reducing stubble burning under the GOBARdhan Scheme.
Emission Reduction: Carbon-neutral CBG replaces fossil fuels, supporting India’s clean energy transition and 1–5% mandatory CBG blending (FY26–FY29).
Farmer Income: Agricultural residues generate additional income while producing nutrient-rich bio-slurry, strengthening the circular economy.

Negative Implications

Crop Diversion: Economic Survey 2025-26 noted rising maize cultivation, while yields of pulses, oilseeds and millets stagnated or declined.
Food Security: Maize-based ethanol prices grew at 11.7% CAGR (FY22–FY25), incentivising maize cultivation over pulses and edible oil crops.
Biodiversity Loss: Germany’s “Corn Mania” reduced crop diversity, forcing the government to cap maize use in biogas plants.

Government Interventions

SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): Central pillar for CBG policy framework.
GOBARdhan Scheme: Integrated initiative for biogas & organic manure; ₹10,000 crore investment in pipeline.
National Biogas Programme (2021–26): Financial assistance for family-size biogas plants to promote clean cooking.
Waste-to-Energy Programme: Focused on large-scale biogas production from organic waste.
PLI Scheme for Bioenergy: Encourages domestic manufacturing & adoption of bioenergy technologies.

Challenges

Infrastructure Deficit: Against the SATAT target of 5,000 CBG plants, only 132 were operational as of June 2026.
Financial Constraints: High capital costs, limited institutional credit and weak private investment hinder the commercial viability of CBG projects.
Feedstock Diversion: Economic Survey 2025–26 highlighted rising maize cultivation while pulses, oilseeds and millets showed stagnant or declining yields.
Supply Bottlenecks: Inadequate biomass collection and gas-grid connectivity persist despite ₹564 crore and ₹994 crore infrastructure allocations.

Way Forward

Infrastructure Expansion: Accelerate SATAT and GOBARdhan implementation to rapidly scale up CBG production capacity.
Financial Incentives: Provide concessional credit, viability gap funding, tax holidays and accelerated depreciation to attract private investment.
Waste Prioritisation: Promote agricultural residue, livestock manure and municipal waste as feedstock, following Denmark’s biomethane model.
Market Assurance: Ensure effective implementation of mandatory CBG blending from 1% (FY26) to 5% (FY29).
Policy Alignment: Balance biofuel pricing with food security goals to prevent excessive maize cultivation and protect crop diversity.

Biogas must evolve from a waste-management initiative to a strategic energy-security mission. Balanced policies integrating energy, agriculture and food security will be crucial for achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.

Reference: The Hindu

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 744

Q. As geopolitical uncertainties expose India’s energy vulnerabilities, Compressed Biogas (CBG) is emerging as a strategic alternative. Discuss the role of CBG in strengthening India’s energy security and examine the challenges in its large-scale adoption. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a contextual introduction about biogas in India.
Body: Write about the role of biogas in strengthening India’s energy security and examine the challenges in its large-scale adoption with a way forward.
Conclusion: Emphasise waste-based biogas, robust CBG infrastructure and balanced feedstock policies to strengthen energy security and food security sustainably.