Mysuru: Karnataka State Bio-Energy Development Board chairman SE Sudheendra on Wednesday said that the state biofuel policy 2025-26 and efforts like inking a deal with German universities by the Karnataka govt not only aim at promoting biofuel productionand consumption in the state, but also contribute to energy security and environmental sustainability.The memorandum of understanding with German universities also helps the state extend its biofuel production activities at a global level, making fossil fuel more competitive.He was speaking after reviewing the progress of works along with a team of experts headed by Prof Shyam Sundar at the Biofuel Research Information and Demonstration Centre (BRIDC) set up at the National Institute of Engineering College campus in the city.Sudheendra also inaugurated the vehicles run by biofuels and visited the biogas production plant on the same campus.He said that his board is making all efforts to increase green cover, apart from conserving soil and water, and reducing toxic and greenhouse emissions by substituting fossil fuel with biofuel.The new state's biofuel policy not only aims at research and development but also provides fiscal incentives to biofuel producers, including tax exemptions, rebates, and custom duty. It also focuses on encouraging biofuels, including biodiesel and ethanol, using sugarcane juice, damaged foodgrains, and non-edible oil seeds.Sudheendra said that his board also conducted various discussions with global and local investors to attract investments for biofuel production, besides conducting seminars and workshops, and discussing providing incentives, infrastructure, and several other facilities for them.Sudheendra also mentioned that a two-day international conference on recent research developments in sustainable technology, organised jointly by the National Institute of Engineering, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Germany, and the Indian Institute of Engineering, was held at NIE's South Campus in the city recently.During this meeting, he also discussed with 100 experts and German universities about sustainable technologies that will play a decisive role in the promotion of state biofuel upgradation and commercialisation activities in the state in the coming days.He said the state bioenergy development board and Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Germany have also shown interest in taking forward research and development of biofuel. A delegation from the state govt, including members from the state energy development board, will also visit Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Germany very soon to finalise their deal.Former ITCL chairman PS Niranjana Rao, assistant engineer of the State Pollution Control Board Arpitha, Prof Shyam Sundar, and other teaching staff of NIE were present during the progress review meeting.
