India’s bioenergy sector has the potential to grow much faster than the country’s overall energy demand and play a major role in energy security, cutting emissions and supporting rural development, Neeraj Mittal, Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said on Thursday.
Speaking on the third day of India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, Dr. Mittal said bioenergy could become a key pillar of India’s energy transition. India Energy Week is being held from January 27 to January 30.
Dr. Mittal was addressing a session at the Addition Stage during the release of the IEA India Bioenergy Market Report: Outlook for Liquid and Gaseous Biofuels to 2030 and the fifth edition of the PPAC journal Ensuring Energy Security: Role of State Energy Policies. He stressed the need to scale up sustainable energy solutions quickly.
He said that while India’s per capita energy consumption remains in the lower half globally, its energy demand is rising at nearly twice the global average. Over the next decade, India’s energy growth could be two times or more than the global growth rate, he added.
Highlighting policy-led progress, Dr. Mittal pointed to the ethanol blending programme as a strong example. He said ethanol blending stood at just 1.4% in 2014 but has now reached close to 20%. He added that India has sufficient domestic ethanol capacity to go beyond this level if supported by technology and a clear national vision. Similar blending targets have been set for biodiesel, compressed biogas and sustainable aviation fuel, reflecting the country’s focus on low-carbon energy growth.
The International Energy Agency released its India Bioenergy Market Report during the session, projecting strong growth for liquid and gaseous biofuels through 2030. Presenting the findings, Dr. Paolo Frankl, Head of the Renewable Energy Division at the IEA, said India has tripled its use of modern bioenergy since 2020. He attributed this to blending mandates, incentives, research support and supply-chain development.
Dr. Frankl said that with stronger policy implementation, India could double its biofuel use again by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing bioenergy markets in the world. He also identified compressed biogas as a key opportunity, given India’s large availability of agricultural residues and organic waste. He said better feedstock collection, nearby infrastructure and stable purchase arrangements would be essential to sustain growth and reduce costs.
Alongside the IEA report, the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell released the fifth edition of its bi-annual technical journal. PPAC Director General P. Manoj Kumar said the edition focuses on the role of state-level energy policies in improving availability, affordability and resilience. He added that the journal includes contributions from states, policymakers and institutions, supporting evidence-based policymaking and cooperative efforts in the energy sector.
World Biogas Association Chief Executive Charlotte Morton also shared her views during the panel discussion. She said a clear national framework for biogas is needed and described biogas as a solution that supports waste management, rural livelihoods, emission cuts and decentralised energy systems. She called for better coordination across policies, financing and markets.
India Energy Week is the country’s main global energy platform, bringing together government officials, industry leaders and innovators to promote a secure, sustainable and affordable energy future. The forum aims to encourage investment, align policies and support technology partnerships in the global energy sector.
