Bioenergy to play pivotal role in decarbonising MSMEs: Shripad Naik

Key Highlights

• Naik said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s renewable energy journey has witnessed unprecedented momentum over the past decade, with bioenergy emerging from a peripheral role to become a strategic pillar of the country’s clean energy transition.
• The minister noted that bioenergy today extends far beyond electricity generation and contributes simultaneously to multiple national priorities, including energy security, rural livelihoods, waste management, pollution reduction and climate action.
• Highlighting the challenge of industrial decarbonisation, particularly in the MSME sector, he pointed out that while MSMEs contribute nearly one-third of India’s manufacturing output and employ millions, a significant share of their energy demand for steam and heat continues to be met through fossil fuels like coal, furnace oil and pet coke.
• Emphasising that biomass-based green steam and heat solutions offer a practical, scalable and India-specific pathway, the minister said India’s abundant availability of agricultural residue, animal waste and municipal solid waste presents a unique opportunity to convert waste into value, reduce emissions and generate additional income for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
• He outlined the government’s integrated approach through initiatives such as the National Bioenergy Programme, SATAT and GOBARdhan, which support biomass briquettes and pellets, non-bagasse-based cogeneration, industrial applications and decentralised solutions tailored to MSMEs, while also strengthening linkages with the National Green Hydrogen Mission.