Bilateral Clean Energy & Biofuels Forum · 2026

The clean fuel future, engineered together

Accelerating clean fuel innovation, sustainable energy transition, and bilateral collaboration between the United States and India.

Date22 September 2026
VenueTaj Mansingh, New Delhi
Ethanol
SAF
Marine Fuel
Clean Cooking
About the Summit

Two energy giants,
one clean-fuel mission

The U.S.–India Biofuels Summit 2026 unites U.S. and Indian leaders, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners in New Delhi to accelerate bilateral collaboration in the ethanol sector and the wider energy transition.

From higher on-road blending and SAF to marine fuel, clean cooking, and industrial uses — this is where technology meets policy and capital meets opportunity, through joint R&D and technology transfer.

ethanolSAFmarine_fuelclean_cookingrural_economyenergy_security
2Nations driving the bilateral clean-fuel agenda forward
8Focus tracks from molecule to mobility
40+Speakers across policy, industry & innovation
Key Focus Areas

Eight tracks. One transition.

The themes powering the U.S.–India clean fuel partnership.

01

On-Road Ethanol Blending

Scaling higher blends from E15 to E85 across both markets.

02

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Decarbonizing flight through partnership and scalable SAF.

03

Sustainable Marine Fuel

Ethanol’s next frontier for low-carbon shipping.

04

Lifecycle Assessment

Maize-to-ethanol carbon: India and U.S. case studies.

05

Global Biofuels Alliance

Global cooperation to scale biofuel technologies.

06

Ethanol in Consumer Products

Expanding ethanol’s reach to everyday goods.

07

Ethanol & Rural Economies

Farm incomes, jobs, and rural development.

08

Cooking with Ethanol

Clean, low-emission cooking for healthier communities.

Why Attend

Built for people who build

Where policy, capital, and technology converge in one room.

01

Meet senior stakeholders

Engage ministers, agency leaders, and C-suite executives shaping the bilateral agenda.

02

Understand policy direction

Clarity on blending targets, SAF mandates, and the incentives defining the decade.

03

Explore partnerships

Identify joint ventures, offtake deals, and cross-border collaboration.

04

Discover innovation & technology

See feedstocks and processes moving from pilot to commercial scale.

05

Network across the ecosystem

Connect with government, industry, startups, academia, and media.

06

Shape the dialogue

Contribute to roundtables informing real bilateral outcomes.

Agenda Preview

The day, mapped

Proposed programme — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 · Taj Mansingh, New Delhi.

08:30

Registration

Guests arrive and registration opens.

10:30

Welcome Remarks

Intro by Reece H. Cannady, USGBC.

10:35

Keynote Address

Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, MoPNG.

10:50

On-Road Blending

The future of blending in the U.S. & India.

11:35

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Implementation via partnership.

12:20

Fireside: Lifecycle

Maize to ethanol — India & U.S. cases.

12:55

Morning Wrap-Up

Recap of the morning sessions.

13:00

Lunch

Networking lunch.

14:00

Cooking with Ethanol

With the Global Biofuels Alliance.

14:45

Sustainable Marine Fuel

Ethanol’s next frontier.

15:30

Ethanol in Everyday Products

Expanding reach to the consumer.

16:15

Tea Break

Refreshments & networking.

16:45

Rural Economies

Ethanol’s impact on rural India.

17:30

Closing Remarks

Key takeaways and next steps.

17:45

Networking Reception

Cocktails and snacks.

Plenary Sessions & Speakers

The full programme

Plenary panels and a fireside chat with equal U.S. and Indian representation. Suggested speakers shown; the line-up is being confirmed.

10:50

The Future of On-Road Ethanol Blending in the U.S. and India

Representative, U.S. DOEEmily Skor — CEO, Growth EnergyGeoff Cooper — President & CEO, Renewable Fuels AssociationLayne Howard — Director of Biofuels, National Corn Growers AssociationRowena Torres-Ordonez — Global Ethanol Technical Consultant & Advisor, U.S. Grains & BioProducts CouncilVijendra Singh — President, All-India Distillers’ Association (AIDA)Ranjit Kulkarni — HoneywellRepresentative, HPCLAdditional Secretary, MoRTH
Moderator: Aman Raj Khanna, The Asia Group
11:35

Sustainable Aviation Fuel — Implementation via Partnership

Keynote: Shri Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (or JS Shobhit Gupta, MoCA)

Lindsay Fitzgerald — Chief Public Affairs Officer, GevoDivya Nanvati — Managing Director, Knowledge Center (India), United AirlinesMark Ingebretson — SAF Consultant, U.S. Grains & BioProducts CouncilJim Spaeth — Managing Director & Co-Founder, Aerovida BioAnuja Kadian — CortevaShailesh Dhar — Executive Director (Aviation), IndianOilP. Balaji — Group Head, GRC & Corporate Affairs, Air IndiaHigh-level representative, IATAAnita George — EVP, Strategic Partnerships (Growth Markets), CDPQ India
Moderator: Alicia Koch, Director of Global Ethanol Export Development, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
12:20

Fireside Chat — Lifecycle Assessment of Maize to Ethanol: India & U.S. Case Studies

Context setting: Mark Ingebretson, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council

Michael Wang — Director, Systems Assessment Center, Argonne National LaboratoryDr. Harender Singh Bisht — Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum
Moderator: Mark Ingebretson, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
14:00

Cooking with Ethanol — Opportunities, Challenges & Solutions with the Global Biofuels Alliance

Sophie Odupoy — Director, Public Affairs, KOKO NetworksAlicia Koch — Director of Global Ethanol Export Development, U.S. Grains & BioProducts CouncilR.R. Rashmi — Distinguished Fellow, TERIDymphna van der Lans — CEO, Clean Cooking AllianceAbhishek Kar — CEEWSanjay Kumar Burman — CEO, HPCL Biofuels LimitedRepresentatives, World Bank, ReNew & IEA
Moderator: Shalini Sarin; Monali Hazra, Director – Climate Change, CIFF
14:45

Sustainable Marine Fuel — Ethanol’s Next Frontier

Context setting: Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways

Prashant Choubey — President & Head, Green Hydrogen & Green Ammonia Business, AvaadaThomas Theeuwes — Managing Director (India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka), MaerskNeeraj Sharma — President & Managing Director, Wärtsilä IndiaVice Admiral B. Sivakumar — Chief of Material, Indian Navy2 panelists, Cruise Lines International (DC Office)
Moderator: Anish De, Global Head – Energy, Natural Resources & Chemicals, KPMG
15:30

Ethanol in Everyday Products — Expanding Ethanol’s Reach to the Consumer

Alex Buck — Director of Industrial Innovation, Iowa Corn Growers AssociationRanjit Kulkarni — VP & GM, Energy & Sustainability Solutions, HoneywellSangeet Jain — Country Head, India, LanzaTechRepresentatives, BASF, Coca-Cola & P&G
Moderator: James Glueck, Executive Director, Plant Based Products Council
16:45

Ethanol’s Impact on Rural Economies

Context setting: Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog

Ashish Gaikwad — Managing Director, Praj IndustriesAnu Agarwal — Managing Editor, Asia, Argus MediaDeepak Balani — Director General, Indian Sugar Mills AssociationRavinder Balain — Country President, India, CargillRepresentative, World Bank
Moderator: Anuja Kadian, Regional Director – Government & Industry Affairs (Asia-Pacific), Corteva
Plenary

Global Biofuels Alliance — Global Cooperation for Biofuel Technologies

Context setting: Shri Pankaj Jain, Interim Director General, Global Biofuels Alliance

Jim Spaeth — Managing Director & Co-Founder, Aerovida BioRyan LeGrand — President & CEO, U.S. Grains & BioProducts CouncilKeiichi Ono — Ambassador of Japan to IndiaChristopher Cooter — High Commissioner of Canada to IndiaJosel Francisco — Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to IndiaRepresentatives, IEA & member countries
Moderator: Pankaj Jain, Interim Director General, Global Biofuels Alliance
Plenary

Environmental Impacts of Ethanol Implementation

Steffen Mueller — Associate Director, Energy Resources Center, University of Illinois-ChicagoKeith L. Kline — Distinguished Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Speakers

Minds behind the movement

Voices from policy, industry, and innovation across both nations.

Keynote

Dr. Neeraj Mittal

Secretary
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Speaker

Ryan LeGrand

President & CEO
U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
Speaker

Emily Skor

Chief Executive Officer
Growth Energy
Speaker

Geoff Cooper

President & CEO
Renewable Fuels Association
Speaker

Dr. V.K. Saraswat

Member
NITI Aayog
Speaker

Lindsay Fitzgerald

Chief Public Affairs Officer
Gevo
Speaker

Michael Wang

Director, Systems Assessment Center
Argonne National Laboratory
Speaker

Ashish Gaikwad

Managing Director
Praj Industries

Suggested speakers shown; the full line-up is being confirmed ahead of the summit.

Invite-Only Roundtables

Focused, closed-door working sessions

Held on the sidelines to maximize partnerships between the two countries on selected topics.

01

Infrastructure Readiness to Implement Higher Blends

Brings together vehicle manufacturers, fuel producers, regulators, testing labs, fleet operators, consumer advocates, and research institutions from the U.S. and India to assess readiness for broader deployment of higher ethanol blends (E15–E85) — covering vehicle compatibility, emissions and safety performance, and consumer adoption.

02

In-Home Cooking with Ethanol

Convenes policymakers, ethanol producers, clean-cooking advocates, stove manufacturers, public-health and environment experts, finance partners, and rural energy leaders to evaluate scaling ethanol as a safe, low-emission clean cooking fuel for rural Indian communities — assessing technical, regulatory, supply-chain, and financing barriers.

03

On-Farm Certification — Making the SAF Value Chain Work

Convenes farmer-producer organizations, extension agencies, ethanol/SAF producers, GHG certifiers, lifecycle analysts, policymakers, finance partners, and buyers to design credible, scalable on-farm GHG measurement that enables traceable feedstock pathways for SAF — aligning protocols, data requirements, and incentives feasible for small and mid-scale producers.

04

Ethanol’s Marine Applications — Commerce and Shipping

Convenes shipping companies, fuel producers, port authorities, regulators, classification societies, engine/retrofit manufacturers, fuel logisticians, and climate-finance partners to evaluate ethanol (and ethanol-derived fuels) as a large-scale, low-carbon marine fuel — assessing technical fit, supply-chain scalability, lifecycle GHG benefits, and pilot voyages and port bunkering trials.

11:00 – 12:00Technologies and Markets for Biochemical Processing and Sales
12:30 – 13:30Vehicle Compatibility — Industry Readiness to Implement Higher Blends
14:00 – 15:00On-Farm Certification — Making the SAF Value Chain Work
16:00 – 17:00Cooking with Ethanol Working Group
Partners & Organizers

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