Bio-CNG is deliberated as a potential green energy alternative amidst India experiencing a mobility revolution driven by the objective of decarbonizing the transport sector in progressing towards accomplishing the country's overall climate goals. It has emerged as a viable fuel source for providing reliable and affordable transportation services to rural areas particularly in developing countries such as India. The production and use of Bio-CNG from animal and agricultural wastes through anaerobic digestion is a potential way to reduce methane emissions. Globally, methane (CH₄) is the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after carbon dioxide (CO₂), accounting for 19 per cent of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions. In 2021, methane emissions in India reached 897 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCOâ‚‚e) increasing more than 30 per cent since 1990 with India reporting second-largest emissions worldwide.

Bio-CNG as vehicular fuel not only has the potential to mitigate methane emissions, but will also aid India in providing cheap, reliable, and environment-friendly transportation, especially to rural areas. This will lead to improved living standards for the rural population by integrating these remote areas to nearby cities providing easy access to external markets, raising agricultural productivity and income, and creating new economic opportunities. In the pursuit of a sustainable and eco-friendly energy transition for India, the TERI team (Resource Efficiency & Governance) published a document titled "Comprehensive Environmental and Social Sustainability Assessment of Bio-CNG as a Vehicular Fuel in India." The team's motivation stems from a deep-seated belief in the transformative potential of Bio-CNG and its pivotal role in steering India towards a greener future. This document presents a meticulous quantitative analysis of the environmental benefits associated with Bio-CNG, emphasizing upstream GHG savings in both production and usage. By examining five distinct feedstocks—cattle dung, paddy straw, bagasse, MSW, and press mud—the research team has provided a nuanced understanding of their potential impact on carbon footprints. Additionally, they navigate the intricacies of compliance benefits within policies such as corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) norms. The comparative well-to-wheel life cycle analysis, which contrasts GHG emissions of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) against Bio-CNG options, is presented to assist industry partners, particularly automotive manufacturers, in strategically aligning with evolving regulations. Surge in demand for mobility and the consequent consumption of fossil fuels for powering transport vehicles is massive and is increasing rapidly with time. However, with geopolitical tensions, shrinking crude oil reserves, and negative impacts of vehicular emissions on global and local pollution has influenced scientific community to explore alternative and sustainable fuels for the transport sector.

India is at the cusp of mobility revolution. At a time when India's automotive industry is undergoing substantial transformation, a diverse mobility solution is required, which still lags in terms of access to transportation facilities, and introduction of e-mobility is a challenge in immediate future. Bio-CNG has emerged as a potential solution to this sustainable mobility challenge in rural areas. The transition can be accomplished by leveraging nation's significant availability of animal wastes for using Bio-CNG as a cost-effective sustainable alternative for the transport sector.

The main environmental advantage of biogas as a vehicle fuel is that it can substantially reduce GHG emissions in the transport sector. Further, when liquid residues from biogas production are used as organic fertilizer it can avoid methane (CH₄) emissions from landfilling or manure storage, resulting in additional GHG savings. Additionally, it will also have a secondary impact on providing easy and affordable access to external markets. This will help in increasing the farmers' income and provide people with new economic opportunities. Therefore, by enhancing people's socio-economic conditions, affordable, clean, inclusive, and reliable mobility will assist the country in inching closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The quantified environmental and socio-economic benefits from the use of biogas for rural mobility presented in the document is a unique and first-of-its-kind exercise undertaken by TERI. This document presents a thorough quantitative analysis of the environmental benefits associated with Bio-CNG, emphasizing upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) savings in both production and usage. By examining five distinct feedstocks, TERI's research team provides a nuanced understanding of their potential impact on carbon footprints. #

Source: https://www.teriin.org/policy-brief/assessment-bio-cng-vehicular-fuel-india