The World Biogas Association INDIA Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi on October 9, 2026, with a clear call to action: India must turn its biogas potential into measurable results. Delivering this ambition will require a decisive shift toward reliable production, stronger plant performance, and commercially viable projects that translate policy ambition into real-world impact.
The fourth edition of the Congress, held on October 8-9, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, project developers, technology experts and investors to examine how compressed biogas (CBG) and biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG) can support India’s energy security, circular economy and Net Zero 2070 ambitions.
Discussions highlighted the need to translate policy support into projects that can operate reliably and attract investment, with regulatory clarity, secure feedstock supplies, assured gas offtake and stronger value chains emerging as key priorities.
India has the potential. India has the policy. The next priority is performance. The success of India’s biogas sector must be measured not simply by the capacity built, but by the gas reliably produced, the methane emissions avoided, the waste treated and the value delivered to farmers and rural communities. That requires a stronger focus on performance throughout the life of every plant, said Charlotte Morton OBE, Chief Executive of WBA.
Day One explored India’s policy and market landscape, including the role of the GOBARdhan initiative, regulatory alignment, urban waste-to-CBG opportunities, farmer participation and international collaboration.
Day Two focused on the practical requirements for sector growth, from operational reliability and technical skills to methane monitoring and credible measurement of environmental benefits.
From capacity creation to reliable production
A central theme throughout the Congress was the need to look beyond installed capacity and focus on what plants consistently deliver. Reliable operations depend on secure feedstock, effective process control, preventive maintenance, skilled operators, assured gas offtake and viable routes for digestate use.
Delegates also explored how digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), can support plant monitoring and operational decision-making.
Measuring methane emissions, applying life-cycle assessment and strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification were highlighted as important to demonstrating credible climate benefits and building investor confidence.
The discussions reinforced that the sector’s success should be assessed through tangible outcomes: gas produced, methane emissions avoided, waste treated, conventional fuels and fertilisers displaced, and value created for farmers and local communities.
Practical frameworks to support sector growth
The World Biogas Association INDIA Congress 2026 highlighted the need to translate India’s biogas ambitions into reliable, commercially viable projects, with discussions focusing on regulatory alignment, plant performance, feedstock security, technical capacity and measurable environmental benefits.
Performance depends on cooperation between central and state governments, industry, farmers, municipalities, financial institutions, research organisations and international partners. WBA is committed to supporting this journey by bringing global experience, strengthening technical capacity and helping India build a safe, bankable and high-performing biogas industry, Charlotte Morton said.
Alongside the Congress, WBA and the Indian Federation for Green Energy (IFGE) co-hosted the CBG Developers Roundtable on Plant Performance – ADCS International, bringing together developers, operators and international experts to address challenges around feedstock quality, methane leak detection and mitigation, and operator skills.
Discussions highlighted practical ways to improve feedstock quality, including process adaptability, source segregation and greater awareness among farmers and suppliers.
Participants also emphasised effective methane leak monitoring and mitigation, alongside stronger operator skills, to support safer, more efficient and reliable CBG plant operations.
These priorities align with WBA’s #MakingBiogasHappen programme, which includes the Global Biogas Regulatory Framework (GBRF), setting out nine pillars of best-practice policy and regulation, and ADCS International (ADCSI), an 11-module certification framework covering areas including biomethane upgrading and life-cycle assessment.
As WBA celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, the WBA INDIA Congress brought policy, industry and international expertise together around a shared goal: turning India’s biogas potential into reliable projects that deliver lasting benefits for energy security, climate action, agriculture and local communities.
