Agri Waste-to-Energy for Atmanirbhar Bharat

India's agri waste-to-energy sector holds immense untapped potential, estimated at 28 GW, fueled by 500 million tonnes of annual crop residue produced, much of which lies unused or burned openly.

February 04, 2026. By News Bureau

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Agricultural byproducts

Modern biomass plants

Policy frameworks

SATAT scheme

India's Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, the vision of self-reliant growth, resonates across sectors. Central to this is energy self-sufficiency, intertwined with sustainability to ensure progress endures for generations. These twin pillars align seamlessly: self-reliance demands domestic resources, while sustainability curbs waste and emissions. India's ambitious renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030 exemplifies this synergy, harnessing solar, wind, and bioenergy. Among these, agri waste-to-energy stands out, converting crop residues into 24x7 reliable grid power. Unlike intermittent solar or wind, it provides baseload stability. This approach excels in sustainability - curtailing open-field burning that chokes air quality and boosts rural development by valorising agricultural byproducts.

India's agri waste-to-energy sector holds immense untapped potential, estimated at 28 GW, fueled by 500 million tonnes of annual crop residue produced, much of which lies unused or burned openly. Currently, open burning contributes to 15-20 percent of seasonal air pollution in northern India, yet modern biomass plants mitigate this through controlled combustion and advanced emission controls.

The agri waste-to-energy value chain unlocks supplementary income for farmers by selling the waste, creating jobs in collection, processing, and biomass plant operations. A single biomass plant can employ hundreds of locals both directly and indirectly, bolstering rural economies strained by agricultural volatility. This model fosters circularity: waste becomes wealth, reducing import dependence on fossil fuels and stabilising rural livelihoods.

Policy frameworks must evolve to amplify agri waste-to-energy's role as localised clean power hubs. Incentives across the value chain - subsidies for machinery, tax breaks on equipment, and priority grid access can accelerate setups. The government's SATAT scheme for compressed biogas and biomass power subsidies under the National Bioenergy Programme offer a strong base, but enhancements like guaranteed offtake via SECI tenders and carbon credits would de-risk investments. Localised plants, ideally 15-20 MW, minimise transmission losses and power remote villages.

SAEL has pioneer the agri waste-to-energy space, with 11 biomass plants across Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana to generate 165 MW of clean, round-the-clock power. SAEL's model empowers farmers, slashes stubble burning by thousands of tonnes annually. Replicating such initiatives nationwide via public-private partnerships and eased land norms would cleanse air, fortify rural economies, and cement India's energy security.

As Atmanirbhar Bharat advances, agri waste-to-energy emerges not just as a technical fix, but a socio-economic catalyst, aligning national pride with planetary stewardship.

- Laxit Awla, CEO and Executive Director, SAEL Industries Ltd.