IEW 2026: India’s Bioenergy Growth Can Outpace Overall Energy Demand, Says MoPNG Secretary

India’s bioenergy sector has the potential to grow significantly faster than the country’s overall energy demand and emerge as a critical pillar of energy security, emissions reduction and rural development, said Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), during India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 being held in Goa from January 27 to 30.

Addressing delegates on the third day of the global energy conclave, Mittal was speaking at 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.

Highlighting India’s rapidly rising energy needs, Mittal said that while per capita energy consumption in India remains in the lower half globally, the country’s growth rate is almost double the world average. He noted that over the next decade, India’s energy demand could outpace global growth by a factor of two or more.

Underscoring the success of policy-led interventions, Mittal cited the ethanol blending programme as a global benchmark. “In 2014, ethanol blending stood at just 1.4 percent. Today, we are close to 20 percent, and India already has sufficient domestic ethanol capacity to go beyond this level with the right technological support and national vision,” he said.

He added that similar blending targets have been established for biodiesel, compressed biogas (CBG) and sustainable aviation fuel, reflecting India’s commitment to responsible and low-carbon energy growth.

Presenting key findings from the IEA report, Dr Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division at the International Energy Agency, said India has already tripled its consumption of modern bioenergy since 2020, driven by blending mandates, targeted incentives, research support and supply-chain development.

Frankl noted that under enhanced policy implementation, India could double its biofuel deployment again by 2030, positioning the country among the world’s fastest-growing bioenergy markets.

Highlighting compressed biogas as a major emerging opportunity, Frankl said India’s vast agricultural residues and organic waste offer significant potential. However, he emphasised that improved feedstock aggregation, infrastructure proximity and stable offtake mechanisms would be critical for sustaining growth and reducing costs.

Complementing the IEA outlook, the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) released the fifth edition of its bi-annual technical journal. P Manoj Kumar, Director General, PPAC, said the publication focuses on the pivotal role of state-level energy policies in strengthening availability, affordability and resilience across India’s energy ecosystem. He added that the journal brings together contributions from states, policymakers and institutions to support evidence-based policymaking and cooperative federalism.

Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the World Biogas Association, also participated in the panel discussion, stressing the need for a cohesive national framework for biogas development. She described biogas as a multi-benefit solution supporting waste management, rural livelihoods, emissions reduction and decentralised energy systems, and called for stronger coordination across policies, finance and markets.

India Energy Week 2026 continues to serve as a major platform for global energy leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to shape India’s transition towards a cleaner, more resilient and sustainable energy future.