Context

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India joined the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on Bioenergy.

About

• 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 primary goal of joining is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce crude imports. It also provides a platform for bioenergy 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.
• The R&D work in IEA Bioenergy TCP is carried out carried out within well-defined 3-years programmes called "Tasks". Each year the progress of the Tasks is evaluated and scrutinized and each 3 years the content of the Tasks is reformulated and new Tasks can be initiated.

Significance

• This will help in information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation.
• The duplication of efforts will be avoided and will help in share costs and technical resources.
• In addition, India can participate in other related Tasks focussing on biogas, solid waste management, biorefining etc. which could be participated by relevant Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations of the Country.