India’s ambitious drive toward a Net-Zero future, powered by a rapidly expanding bioenergy sector, is currently grappling with fundamental challenges that cut across technology, agriculture, and human resources.
The core hurdle, according to industry leaders, are not just about big technology, but about securing a consistent, quality feedstock supply from the ground and tapping an unexpected source for manpower: retiring defence personnel.
The most consistent pain point raised by experts was the challenge of biomass feedstock, which Col. Neeraj Marwah of IFRPL (GPS Renewables) vividly called the sector’s “hero and the headache.” This critical raw material is highly price-sensitive and its supply is fraught with logistical problems. Shashank Adlakha, COO of REnergy Dynamics, highlighted the significant risk of loss from unregulated open storage, noting that fire losses without standard operating procedures (SOPs) or insurance remain a major concern.
Compounding this, Tushar Lowalekar of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology, pointed out that unseasonal rains are no longer rare, forcing farmers to cover and protect crop residue, which adds to costs and demands nimble, cost-effective storage solutions.
Feedstock quality and seasonal availability directly affect Compressed Biogas (CBG) production and pricing, stressed Pulkit Agarwal, Director of Biospark Energy, emphasising the need for plants to handle multiple feedstock types and ensure proper storage. A major barrier to consistent supply is the farmer mindset. Kumar Neelendu, Founder & CEO of Farm Watt, explained that despite the availability of bailing machinery for efficient collection, many farmers resort to burning residue simply because it is “familiar and easy.” He advocated for education, support, and careful planning, particularly for small farms, to overcome this mentality and ensure a steady supply.
To optimise quality and efficiency, Benedikt Lambrecht-Speller, Division Sales Manager Asia at KRONE Agriculture, noted that technologies like moisture-measuring payloads and the right choice of bailing—square bales for stacking or round bales for field conditions—are vital to reducing logistics costs and unlocking maximum value from agricultural residue.
Amidst these challenges, a unique solution for the sector’s human capital need was presented by Maj Gen Ajay Singh Chauhan, SC, SM (Retd), Managing Director of the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO). He offered the 60,000 Indian Army personnel who retire annually, often as young as 35 to 60. Given that over 70% of defence personnel come from an agrarian background, he argued that a simple orientation could make them an “exceptionally good fit” for the new sector, potentially placing a disciplined veteran in “virtually every remotest village of this country.” The conference also celebrated India’s progress, with Hans Ole Klingenberg of Novonesis, marveling that the Indian ethanol industry’s growth over the last 10 years is “unmatched globally.”
Ultimately, the conference highlighted that while advanced technologies like biomass-to-hydrogen and green hydrogen applications are scaling up, the success of India’s bioenergy transition rests on overcoming the grassroots realities of feedstock management, farmer engagement, and agricultural productivity.