Greater Noida: Uttar Pradesh is looking to accelerate the growth of its bioenergy sector by attracting greater private investment in Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), waste-to-energy and other renewable energy projects. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 3rd India Bioenergy & Tech Expo 2026 at India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister AK Sharma highlighted the state’s growing potential in converting agricultural and urban waste into clean energy.
Sharma said Uttar Pradesh currently has 58 CBG plants, making it the largest contributor to the CBG sector in the country. He said the state has a large feedstock base for bioenergy projects, generating around 60 million tonnes of agricultural waste every year. According to the minister, converting this waste into energy can increase farmers’ income, create employment opportunities and reduce the environmental impact of crop residue burning.
The minister said bioenergy can create benefits across the agricultural, industrial and employment sectors if the right technologies are adopted. Converting agricultural waste into energy could provide an additional source of income for farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers, while creating new opportunities for private companies to invest in the clean-energy sector.
Sharma, who also holds the urban development portfolio, said Uttar Pradesh generates approximately 15,000 tonnes of municipal waste every day. He stressed that processing this waste through waste-to-energy technologies could help cities tackle waste-disposal challenges while generating additional energy. The initiative could also help the state address legacy waste and improve cleanliness and urban living conditions.
Highlighting the state’s progress in solar energy, Sharma said Uttar Pradesh has around 7,000 vendors under the PM Surya Ghar scheme and currently ranks second in the country in terms of installations. He added that the state has achieved the highest rate of daily installations and could soon become the leading state under the programme.
Sharma also highlighted the importance of balancing India’s growing energy requirements with its climate commitments. He said the country has pursued an energy transition that focuses on expanding renewable energy while continuing to meet rising electricity demand. According to him, Uttar Pradesh is also working to create an investor-friendly environment for renewable and bioenergy projects through supportive policies and streamlined implementation.
The minister said the state would continue its bioenergy policy and remain open to suggestions from industry stakeholders to make the policy more conducive to investment. He urged companies participating in the expo to submit a consolidated report outlining specific policy and regulatory changes that could make it easier to establish and operate bioenergy projects in Uttar Pradesh.
Sharma also called for stronger collaboration between the government and bioenergy companies to develop skilled manpower for the sector. He proposed allowing companies to use existing training institutions to conduct specialised courses and prepare young people for emerging employment opportunities in bioenergy. Citing the growth of the solar sector and the large network of vendors created under the PM Surya Ghar programme, he said a similar model could be developed for the bioenergy industry.
The minister emphasised that the expansion of Uttar Pradesh’s bioenergy sector will require technology, private investment, skilled manpower and greater awareness among farmers and households. With its large agricultural-residue and municipal-waste base, the state aims to position bioenergy as an important contributor to clean energy generation, rural incomes, employment and sustainable economic growth.
