India focuses on advanced biofuels, becomes 25th member of IEA Bioenergy TCP

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG), government of India has recently joined IEA Bioenergy TCP as its 25th member. The primary goal of MoP&NG joining IEA Bioenergy TCP is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce substantial crude oil imports.

IEA Bioenergy TCP also provides a platform for international collaboration and information exchange in bioenergy research, technology development, demonstration, and policy analysis with a focus on overcoming the environmental, institutional, technological, social, 'and market barriers to the near-and long-term deployment of bioenergy technologies.

International Energy Agency's Technology Collaboration Programme on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy TCP) is an international platform for co-operation among countries with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment. IEA Bioenergy TCP works under the framework of International Energy Agency (IEA) to which India has "Association" status since 30th March, 2017.

The R&D work in IEA Bioenergy TCP is carried out within well-defined 3-year programmes called 'Tasks'. Each year, the progress of the Tasks is evaluated and scrutinised and every three years the content reformulated and new Tasks initiated. Technical persons from public sector oil marketing companies will also contribute in the Tasks.

The benefits of participation in IEA Bioenergy TCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources. The duplication of efforts is avoided and national R&D capabilities are strengthened. There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation. 

The other members of IEA Bioenergy TCP include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Commission.