Goa drafts policy to promote bioenergy, reduce fossil fuel dependence

By Murari Shety

The draft Goa bioenergy policy focuses on adopting biofuels and bioenergy products across the state, reducing emissions caused by fossil fuels, and, in turn, becoming a leader in bioenergy and biofuel production. This contributes to national energy security goals.
The policy intends to cover all aspects related to bioenergy, including biofuel production, distribution, utilisation of technologies in the sector, and the availability of resources to produce bioenergy-related products.

The objective of the policy is to promote the adoption of bioenergy products in Goa, to reduce dependence on fossil fuel consumption and increase the use of biofuel as alternatives. It aims to encourage the sustainable use of agricultural residues, cooking oil, non-food biomass, and municipal solid waste for bioenergy production. The policy also focuses on developing an integrated supply chain and infrastructure to collect, store, and transport these as raw materials for bioenergy production. It seeks to develop clusters across the state in a decentralised manner, involving communities and panchayats in the adoption of bioenergy in the state.
Additionally, it aims to develop an aggregator model that creates a supply chain for the sale and purchase of bioenergy products and their raw materials.

Through the policy, govt intends to provide opportunities in skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship, support research, development, and innovation in biofuel technology, and set up a biomass digital market through the GEDA for the aggregation of biomass, transport of biomass, and other biomass-related activities.
Under the policy, govt will provide incentives for biofuel manufacturing units and biomass supply chain units. Biomass briquette/pellet manufacturing plants, biomass-based steam generation plants, biomass supply chain companies, and the conversion of existing sewage treatment plants are eligible under the scheme. Existing plants may expand or diversify, but they are eligible for incentives only for the additional capacity being added through the scheme.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.