The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) celebrated World Biofuel Day with a special event aimed at showcasing the advancements in biofuels and carbon capture technologies today at its  New Delhi campus.

The event brought together students, researchers, and experts to discuss the idea, emergence, and opportunities in advanced biofuels that would contribute to the global and national target of Net Zero CO2 emission.

The event’s highlight was a keynote address by the Chief Guest, Shri Ramakrishna YB, Former Chairperson of the Working Group on Biofuels under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG), Govt of India and Current Member Expert – Working Group on Biofuels, MoP&NG. His talk, titled ‘Emerging Policy Ecosystem in India for Advanced Biofuels and Opportunities Towards Achieving Net Zero by 2070’, shed light on the current policy framework, opportunities, and the future of biofuels in India.

“The biofuel sector has immense potential, surpassing the agriculture sector in scale, and necessitates extensive research and development to overcome technical and economic barriers, making it commercially viable and unlocking its vast opportunities for sustainable energy production”, said Shri Ramakrishna YB.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, Shri Ramakrishna YB also released two short films produced by ICGEB, which underlined the institution’s research efforts in the area of biofuels and carbon capture. The first film, titled ‘Building a Greener Future: The Carbon Quest’, focused on the cutting-edge research in carbon capture, highlighting how these technologies could pave the way for a sustainable future. The second film, ‘Building a Greener Future: Biomass to Biofuels’, showcased ICGEB’s efforts in transforming biomass into biofuels, a crucial area of research that held immense potential for reducing carbon emissions.

The event witnessed participation from students of three premier colleges of Delhi University and two Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, who had the unique opportunity to interact with leading scientists at ICGEB. The interaction sessions were designed to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists about the ongoing research in biofuels and carbon capture.

In addition, the students were treated to live demonstrations from various ICGEB labs, showcasing the practical aspects of biofuel production and carbon capture technologies. These demonstrations provided a hands-on experience and deepened their understanding of the scientific processes involved in these critical areas of research.

ICGEB’s celebration of World Biofuel Day 2024 was not just a testament to its commitment to cutting-edge research but also an effort to engage and inspire young minds in the quest for a sustainable and green future.

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KSY/PSM