High-level gathering on September 2 to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, automobile majors, energy companies and global experts to deliberate on higher ethanol blending, flex-fuel mobility, CBG, SAF and emerging bioenergy pathways.
As India moves beyond the landmark E20 ethanol-blending milestone and enters the next phase of its clean energy transition, the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) will host the AIDA Green Energy Seminar 2026 on September 2, 2026, at Le Méridien, New Delhi.
Under the theme “Clean Mobility Pathways for India’s Energy Future,” the seminar will bring together senior policymakers, government representatives, automobile and energy industry leaders, state bioenergy stakeholders and international experts to deliberate on the opportunities, challenges and policy imperatives shaping India’s next phase of clean mobility and its expanding bioenergy ecosystem.
India’s ethanol programme has reached a significant milestone with 20% ethanol blending in petrol. The focus is now shifting towards the next stage of the transition—including higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles, E85 and other higher-blend fuels, fuel infrastructure, vehicle compatibility and a policy framework that can support the sustained growth of biofuels.
However, India’s clean energy transition is no longer confined to ethanol alone. Compressed Biogas (CBG), Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), ethanol-based cooking solutions and other emerging bioenergy pathways are creating new opportunities across mobility, aviation, agriculture, waste management and rural development.
The AIDA Green Energy Seminar will therefore take a broader view of India’s bioenergy transition, bringing together policy, technology, agriculture, automotive, energy and industry stakeholders to explore how these interconnected pathways can contribute to energy security, emissions reduction, resource efficiency and sustainable economic growth.
Bringing Policy, Industry and Technology Together
The programme has been designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue across the clean mobility and bioenergy value chain, with a strong focus on the policy and regulatory framework required to support the next phase of growth.
The Inaugural Session will feature a welcome address by Mr. Vijendra Singh, President AIDA, followed by addresses by senior government representatives, including the Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency; Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog; Alok Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas; and Shri Praveen Khanooja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and a special address by Harshvardhan Patil, President, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF).
Feedstock Sustainability: Balancing Land, Water and Energy Security
The first substantive panel will examine one of the most critical issues for the next phase of India’s bioenergy journey—feedstock sustainability and the balance between food, fuel, land and water resources.
The panel will bring together representatives from government, agriculture, international biofuels and the distillery sector, including Dr. Mehraj A.S., Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India; Reece Cannady, Director, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council; Kapil Nema, Deputy Executive Director – Sugar & Ethanol Business, Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries Ltd.; and R.K. Gangwar, Managing Director, Mawana Sugars Limited.
The session will be moderated by Sankalp Purwar, Chief Business Officer, CRID.
The discussion will examine the availability and sustainability of feedstocks, regional resource constraints, water efficiency, agricultural productivity and the need to develop a diversified feedstock base to support India’s expanding bioenergy ambitions.
What Comes After E20? Expanding the Bioenergy Opportunity
A central theme of the seminar will be what comes after E20 and how India can build the ecosystem required for higher ethanol blending and wider adoption of flex-fuel mobility.
The session will bring together stakeholders from the automobile, energy efficiency, biofuel and policy ecosystem, with participation expected from Maruti Suzuki/Toyota, Hero MotoCorp/Bajaj, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and NITI Aayog.
Vijay Nirani, Founder and Managing Director, TruAlt Bioenergy Limited, representing the producer perspective, and Nischint Kanodia,Managing Director ,Mash Bio-Fuels Private Limited.will moderate the session.
The discussion will examine the transition towards higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them. It will also consider vehicle technology, fuel quality, dispensing infrastructure, consumer adoption, emissions reduction and policy coordination as India moves towards the next phase of ethanol-led mobility.
CBG and GOBARdhan: Turning Waste into Energy
With India increasingly focusing on the conversion of agricultural residues, organic waste and cattle dung into clean energy, Compressed Biogas (CBG) is emerging as an important pillar of the country’s broader bioenergy strategy.
The seminar will examine the evolving CBG policy framework and the GOBARdhan initiative, including feedstock aggregation, project viability, offtake mechanisms, financing, infrastructure and the integration of CBG into the country’s clean mobility and energy ecosystem.
The discussion will also explore the potential for stronger convergence between agriculture, waste management, energy and transport policies, enabling waste-to-energy projects to contribute simultaneously to rural development, waste management, emissions reduction and energy security.
The session will provide an opportunity for policymakers and industry stakeholders to discuss the policy interventions required to make CBG projects commercially viable and accelerate investment in the sector.
SAF: The Next Frontier in India’s Bioenergy Journey
Another important area of discussion will be Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the emergence of a domestic SAF ecosystem.
As aviation decarbonisation gathers momentum globally and international sustainability requirements become increasingly important, India is examining pathways to develop domestic SAF production using agricultural residues, ethanol and other sustainable feedstocks.
The seminar will bring together stakeholders to discuss the emerging SAF policy and regulatory framework, technology pathways, feedstock availability, investment requirements and opportunities for Indian biofuel producers to participate in the aviation energy transition.
The discussion will also examine how India can leverage its existing strengths in agriculture, ethanol, biomass and renewable energy to build a competitive SAF ecosystem and position the country as an important player in the global sustainable aviation fuel market.
White Paper Launch to Bring Research and Policy into the Conversation
The seminar will also feature the launch of two White Papers by reputed institutions/organisations, bringing an evidence-based research and policy perspective to the discussions.
The White Papers will provide an opportunity to examine key issues confronting India’s clean energy transition and offer recommendations for policymakers and industry as the country moves towards the next generation of biofuels and clean mobility solutions.
State-Level Bioenergy Transition in Focus
India’s bioenergy transition will ultimately depend on effective implementation at the state level. Recognising this, AIDA has dedicated a session to State Bioenergy Representatives, bringing together perspectives from key bioenergy-producing and emerging states.
Representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, along with international perspectives, will participate in the session. Among the speakers are Dr. Sanjay Kolte, I.A.S., Commissioner Sugar, Maharashtra, and Sumit Sarkar, Chief Executive Officer, Chhattisgarh Bioenergy Development Authority (CBDA).
The session will be moderated by Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, IFGE.
The discussion will highlight the diversity of India’s state-level bioenergy potential and examine how state policies, feedstock availability, infrastructure, investment and local implementation frameworks can accelerate the development of a robust bioenergy ecosystem.
Spotlight on Women Leaders in Bioenergy and Sustainability
The programme will also feature a dedicated session on “High Power Women in Bioenergy & Sustainability Sector,” recognising the growing contribution of women leaders to India’s energy and sustainability transition.
The session will feature Dr. Nidhi Sahu, Deputy General Manager, Indian Federation of Green Energy; Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava, Executive Director, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd.; Piya Srinivasan; and other leading women professionals from the sector.
The session will be moderated by Ashesha Advaryu, Financial Markets Anchor & Lead Research Analyst, ET NOW & ET NOW Swadesh.
The conversation will highlight leadership, innovation and the growing role of women in shaping India’s bioenergy, sustainability and clean-energy agenda.
Building the Roadmap Beyond E20
The AIDA Green Energy Seminar 2026 comes at a defining moment in India’s clean energy journey. The achievement of E20 has demonstrated the scalability of the country’s ethanol blending programme. The next phase, however, will require a much broader and more integrated approach.
Higher ethanol blending and flex-fuel mobility will need to progress alongside CBG, SAF, ethanol-based cooking solutions and other advanced bioenergy pathways, supported by appropriate policy, technology, infrastructure, investment and feedstock strategies.
The transition will also require greater coordination between government, agriculture, automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, technology providers, financial institutions and bioenergy producers.
By bringing these diverse stakeholders onto a common platform, AIDA aims to facilitate a deeper conversation on how India can harness its diverse bioenergy resources to strengthen energy security, reduce emissions, support farmers and rural economies, promote circularity and build a sustainable clean mobility and energy ecosystem.
From higher ethanol blends and flex-fuel vehicles to CBG and GOBARdhan, SAF, sustainable feedstocks and new clean-energy applications, the AIDA Green Energy Seminar 2026 will bring these interconnected conversations together on one platform.
The deliberations are expected to provide valuable perspectives on the policy, technology and investment pathways required to scale India’s next generation of clean mobility and bioenergy solutions and advance the country’s journey towards a more energy-secure and sustainable future.