Bengaluru: Karnataka is exploring collaborations in bioenergy, waste-to-energy, sustainable energy solutions for airport infrastructure and circular economy models, with stakeholders discussing potential investment and technology partnerships, Deccan Herald reported.
The discussions took place during a meeting between S E Sudheendra, chairman of the Karnataka State Bioenergy Development Board (KSBDB), and V Prem Watsa, founder, chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.
Sudheendra briefed Watsa on Karnataka’s initiatives to promote the production and use of biofuels by utilising different feedstocks and bio-resources available in the state. He highlighted areas including compressed biogas (CBG), biodiesel, other biofuels and renewable energy solutions.
The meeting also focused on the proposed new bioenergy policy and potential investments in Karnataka’s bioenergy sector.
A key proposal was the development of waste-to-energy projects at airports, involving scientific management of waste generated within airport premises and conversion of suitable organic and other waste streams into energy.
Sudheendra proposed an ‘airport bioenergy and circular economy model’ under which resources generated within airport ecosystems could be integrated into a broader sustainable energy framework.
Under the proposed model, used cooking oil generated by restaurants, hotels and canteens at airports could be collected for biodiesel production. Food waste and suitable green waste could be processed to produce compressed biogas.
The discussions covered investment opportunities, technology collaboration, project development and knowledge exchange related to airport-based biofuel and waste-to-energy projects.
The stakeholders also explored developing pilot projects in Karnataka that could subsequently be replicated at airports elsewhere in the country.
Sudheendra said Karnataka had significant potential in the bioenergy sector and that partnerships with global investors and organisations with expertise in airports and infrastructure could accelerate the development of clean-energy projects, circular economy initiatives and sustainable energy systems.
Fr Victor Lobo, vice-chancellor of St Joseph’s University, and Dancil Lobo, pro-vice-chancellor, were also present at the meeting.
