Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey

Abstract

Development of energy systems, based on forest biomass, is a challenging issue in India. The study investigated perceptions of fifty-five Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in relation to the potential benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy (FBE) projects in India when they participated in two training programs in Finland during 2010. They generally agreed that development of FBE projects could have beneficial impacts on job creation, income generation, rural development, and restoring ecological degradation. They perceived lack of public acceptance and political support, impacts on biodiversity, and lack of technologies and infrastructure as the considerable challenges to the development of FBE projects in India. The study could provide some policy directions towards developing the FBE sector in India. It recommends conducting further studies to include a larger group of experts and other stakeholders to investigate the broader societal perceptions of FBE projects in India. In addition, the study also recommends building the capacity of the IFS officers so that they can play a key role from the government side for developing the FBE sector in the country.

Forest Biomass for Energy Production: Perceptions of State Forestry Professionals from China and India

“…In an Indian context, there have been a few techno-economic studies regarding the opportunities and challenges concerning bioenergy development; however, none have focused on FBPs, perhaps due to the reason that conversion technologies for second generation biofuels have not been developed in the country [23]. Most recently, Halder et al [9] conducted a study among a group of professionals working in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) to explore their perceptions of developing FBPs in India. Their study found that while the IFS professionals perceived that such projects could create jobs and income, they were also concerned over the lack of public awareness and political support, as well as the lack of suitable technologies for such projects in India.…”

“…Results from the India-specific study have been published in Halder et al [9], and therefore, this study will only present the results of the comparative analysis between the two countries. Data were collected from a group of Indian SFPs when they participated in a forestry training program in Finland in 2010.…”

“…Unlike China, a large number of people in India depend on forest and agricultural biomasses for cooking and heating, and yet, there is no specific policy being initiated by the GoI to improve the supply of forest biomass for meeting the fuel wood demand of the people. The most recent NPB does not provide any clear guidance for this aspect, and thus, it is difficult to anticipate the future developments in the forest-based bioenergy sector in India [9]. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the GoI has initiated a biomass-based power generation program from bagasse produced in sugar mills [10], and it once again overlooked the potential use of forest biomass for meeting the heat and electricity demand of a sizeable portion of the population.…”

Solar Energy's Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Agriculture

“…Improved energy access and quality of life: Solar-powered agriculture can improve energy access and quality of life for rural communities, particularly in developing countries where access to electricity is limited or unreliable [113]. By providing a sustainable and affordable source of energy for farming and household uses, solarpowered systems can reduce the time and labor required for tasks such as water collection, cooking, and lighting, freeing up time for education, income-generating activities, and leisure [114].…”

Perspectives of Feedstock Supply for Biomass-Based Energy Plant Development in India: Views from an Expert Survey

“…In addition, various challenges associated with the development of large-scale bioenergy projects are recognized as: lack of available land for energy crop plantations; lack of information on the impacts of bioenergy production on food security; and lack of institutional, financial, and initiatives in promotion of bioenergy marketing [11]. A recent study revealed that lack of public acceptance, political support, available technology, and infrastructure are the major hindrances in the development of forest-based bioenergy projects in India [12]. However, the above bottlenecks are very common in the promotion of bioenergy, not only in India but also in other developed and developing countries.…”