India stands at a crucial energy crossroads. The nation’s growing energy demands must be met sustainably, and Compressed Biogas (CBG) offers a compelling solution. Derived from agricultural residues, organic waste, and other biomass, CBG presents a potent combination of energy security and environmental responsibility. However, despite its promise, the CBG sector remains hampered by a complex web of challenges, hindering its widespread adoption. This article explores these challenges and proposes a comprehensive policy roadmap to unlock CBG’s vast potential.
The bottleneck: Challenges stunting CBG growth
Several critical obstacles impede the scaling up of CBG development in India:
* Policy fragmentation: Oversight of biogas development is scattered across multiple ministries and agencies, resulting in a lack of cohesive strategy and implementation. This fragmented approach leads to regulatory inconsistencies, bureaucratic delays, and a general sense of uncertainty that discourages investment.
* Feedstock supply instability: CBG production relies on a consistent flow of agricultural residues and organic waste. However, the availability of these feedstocks is often seasonal and subject to price volatility, creating operational challenges and economic risks for CBG producers.
