Investments totalling Rs 18.50 billion have been committed to the biogas sector during the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo 2024, which took place from October 3 to 5 in Greater Noida, according to a senior official from the Indian Biogas Association (IBA). The IBA Chairman, Gaurav Kedia, informed PTI that the association has secured anticipated investment commitments amounting to Rs 18.50 billion through joint ventures (JVs), memorandums of understanding (MoUs), and letters of intent (LoIs) at the recent expo.
Kedia noted that a total of 47 exhibitors representing ten biogas-producing nations participated in the REI Expo. He mentioned that these investments, expected to be realized over the next 2-3 years, demonstrate strong international interest, particularly from countries like Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Furthermore, he stated that they have signed MoUs worth over Rs 9 billion for joint ventures and received nearly 50 LoIs for establishing compressed biogas plants in India.
The IBA, established in 2011 and revamped in 2015, serves as a national platform for bioenergy operators, manufacturers, and planners, collaborating with international organizations such as the German Biogas Association to promote the growth of the biogas sector in India.
The REI Expo is one of the largest renewable energy events in India, emphasizing bioenergy, solar, wind, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency technologies. Supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and key industry players, the Bio-Energy Pavilion 2024 aimed to accelerate India's progress toward net-zero emissions.
Additionally, IBA President Dr A R Shukla highlighted the success of this year's expo, noting that the active participation of the MNRE, along with scientists from the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE) in Kapurthala, has boosted confidence in the bioenergy sector.