After solar alliance, India makes case for biofuels grouping to support energy transition: PM Modi

India's proposal for a global alliance on biofuels among members of Group of 20 major ecomies will help accelerate sustainable biofuels deployment in support of global energy transition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

biofuels alliance, which world's third biggest oil consumer wants to push during its G20 presidency, mirrors International Solar Alliance (ISA) piloted by New Delhi and Paris in 2015 to bring clean and affordable solar energy within reach of all.

"Such (biofuel) alliances are aimed at creating options for developing countries to advance ir energy transitions," prime minister told PTI in an exclusive interview late last week.

"Biofuels are also important from perspective of a circular ecomy. Markets, trade, techlogy, and policy – all aspects of international cooperation are crucial in creating such opportunities," he said.

Biofuel is a renewable source of energy which is derived from biomass. India, which imports over 85 per cent of its crude oil needs, is gradually building capacity to produce fuel from items including crop stubble, plant waste, and municipal solid waste.

"Such alternatives can enhance energy security, create opportunities for domestic industry, and create green jobs – all crucial elements in ensuring a transition that leaves one behind," Modi said.

While India is on schedule to double mixing of ethal extracted from sugarcane and agriculture waste to 20 per cent with petrol by 2025, dozens of compressed biogas (CBG) plants are being set up.

alliance is aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying use of sustainable biofuels, including in transportation sector. Its focus primarily is on strengning markets, facilitating global biofuels trade, development of concrete policy lesson-sharing, and provision of technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide.

Such an initiative is also aimed at helping India's transition to alternative fuels and cutting its import bill, as it aims to achieve its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2070.

prime minister said that in an interconnected and interdependent world, greater capacities and capabilities of countries around world, greater global resilience.

"When links in a chain are weak, each crisis furr weakens complete chain. But when links are strong, global chain can handle any crisis, utilising each or's strengths," he said making a case for global alliance.

Stating that protection and preservation of planet for future generations was a shared responsibility that needs to be given top priority, he ted that great progress has been made in climate-centric initiatives within India.

"India ramped up its solar energy capacity 20-fold in just a few years. It is among top four nations in world in terms of wind energy. In electric vehicle revolution, India is playing an important role in both invation and adoption," he said. "We are perhaps first among G-20 countries to have achieved our climate targets nine years ahead of scheduled date." Also, action against single-use plastic has been recognised across world. Great strides have also been made in safe sanitation and cleanliness.

"Naturally, we have moved from being just a member of global efforts to playing a leading role in many initiatives. Initiatives like International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure are bringing countries toger for planet. ISA has got a great response with over 100 countries joining it," he said.

Mission LiFE initiative focuses on lifestyle for environment. "Each lifestyle decision can be made based on what impact it will have on planet in long term," he added.

ISA aims to mobilise more than USD 1000 billion of investment needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy.

International Energy ncy (IEA) estimates that global sustainable biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put world's energy system on track towards net zero emissions by 2050.

Liquid biofuels provided more than four per cent of total transport energy supply in 2022.