New Delhi: India’s experience in ethanol blending and compressed biogas (CBG) development will serve as a model for a new international fellowship launched by the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) to help countries accelerate biofuel adoption and advance their clean energy transition.
The Global Biofuel Champion Fellowship, a two-year programme unveiled by the Alliance, has selected 15 early-career researchers and practitioners from 32 countries to act as global biofuel ambassadors, translating research into commercially viable clean-fuel solutions, Financial Express reported.
Conceived during COP30 in Brazil, the fellowship will place participants in regional technical units, diplomatic missions and international policy forums to support governments in developing bioenergy roadmaps and advancing net-zero goals.
The inaugural cohort was selected through a three-stage international evaluation following outreach to more than 200 universities and 100 think tanks worldwide. The fellows represent institutions including the University of Michigan, the University of Manchester, Monash University, Polytechnique Montréal, and organisations in India, Brazil and Africa.
Launching the programme, Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Neeraj Mittal highlighted India’s rapid biofuel expansion as a model that could be replicated by other countries.
He said India achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025 ahead of schedule, generating estimated foreign exchange savings of $16-17 billion while providing more than $12.5 billion in additional income to agricultural communities.
Mittal also highlighted India’s expansion of second-generation ethanol production through projects such as the Panipat refinery, which converts paddy straw into transport fuel, helping reduce emissions while addressing agricultural waste.
He said the country has commissioned 210 compressed biogas plants under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative, with another 334 plants under construction. India has also introduced a phased CBG blending obligation that will gradually increase to 5% by FY29.
According to estimates presented at the event, utilising just one-third of India’s compressed biogas potential could offset the country’s entire liquefied natural gas import requirement.
The Alliance is also expanding its focus to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with proposed blending targets of 1% for international flights from 2027, increasing to 5% by 2030.
GBA Director Josh Wycliffe said the fellowship has been designed to create long-term technical and policy impact beyond its launch.
Under the programme, fellows will lead regional technology-transfer taskforces, prepare customised bioenergy feasibility plans for governments, including non-member countries, and serve as technical advisers to diplomatic missions. The Alliance will also launch a monthly masterclass series, Fuelling the Future, and an open-data digital platform to promote international technical cooperation.
The fellows are also expected to contribute to a joint mid-term policy briefing for global platforms such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the World Economic Forum.
The launch included a policy discussion on expanding ethanol blending and promoting flex-fuel vehicles. Representatives from Indian Oil Corporation, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Renuka Sugars discussed technology collaboration, business models and policy measures needed to support the next phase of biofuel adoption.
The fellowship aims to strengthen cooperation between research institutions, governments and industry while using India’s progress in ethanol, compressed biogas and agricultural waste-to-fuel technologies as a practical roadmap for emerging economies.
