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32 Microbiology of Biogas Production from Food Waste: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Needs

availability of biofuels in the market via development of new technologies for

conversion of waste to biofuels, thus creating a suitable environment for biofuels

and its integration with conventional fuels. Under this policy, the Government

of India (GoI) had launched the GOBAR-DHAN (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agri

Resources) scheme promoting conversion of cattle dung and solid waste from farms

to bio-CNG and compost. This program intends to benefit households in identified

villages with the help of gram panchayats. The Ministry of New and Renewable

Energy (MNRE) has notified a central financial assistance of 4 crore/4800 kg of CBG

generated from 12 000 m³ of biogas/day with a maximum of Rs. 10 crore/project [1].

The estimated potential of CBG production in India from several sources is about

62 million tonnes/annum. The CBG network can be integrated with the city gas dis-

tribution (CGD) network by injection of the CBG into CGD pipelines for efficient

distribution thus ensuring enhanced access to a quality and affordable fuel [2].

32.2

Fundamentals for Accomplishing National Biofuel

Policy

Today’s waste can be converted to tomorrow’s energy. A large portion of the biomass

produced can be converted into biogas which goes a long way in making a country

self-reliant, help combat global warming, and ease climate changes.

The key drive of any national biofuel policy is to ensure accessibility of biofuels

from indigenous feedstock. This can be achieved by creating a national biomass

repository by conducting a biomass assessment across the nation. Research and

development in major areas of feedstock production, newer feedstocks, and biofuels

processing for various end-use applications need to be focused. Identification of

locations with excess accessible biomass and generation of feedstock such as energy

grasses and fast-growing crops by employing unutilized lands will play a critical

role in encouraging industrial set up.

Surveys undertaken in India have anticipated a yield of 3000 crore liters of ethanol

annually with surplus biomass availability to the tune of 120–160 MMT annually.

Bio-CNG, which is one of the major by-products in 2G ethanol biorefineries and

transport fuel, needs to be brought under offtake assurance by the public sector

gas marketing companies. There is an estimated annual generation of 62 MMT

of MSW in India, which has tremendous potential to produce drop-in fuels and

generate power including refuse-derived fuel, biogas/electricity, and compost for

agriculture [1].

It is essential to demonstrate on commercial scale, the existing technologies for

transformation of waste biomass into drop-in fuels, bio-CNG, and biohydrogen.

Such technologies would be modeled to meet energy demands in rural areas and

address the environmental issues. Establishments of such plants for the production

of advanced fuels need to be promoted with financial incentives such as GAP

funding, subsidies, grant for biofuels, and offtake assurance. Prospects of generating

carbon credits for the savings on CO2 emissions on the account of biofuel feedstock

generation and use of biofuels, in pure or blended form, may be explored.

It is essential to reinforce the current R&D centers and establish a network

between the research organization, institutions, and industry for significant