SunBridge BioEnergy, the bioenergy arm of SunBridge Group, has commenced commercial production at its 300-kilolitre-per-day (KLD) grain-based, fuel-grade ethanol plant in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, marking a major step in the company’s expansion into India’s growing biofuel sector.
The Seoni facility, spread across approximately 117,560 square metres, has an ethanol production capacity of 300 KLD and storage capacity of 11,000 kilolitres. The company’s overall ethanol capacity is expected to rise to 700 KLD with the planned operationalisation of its 400 KLD facility in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
The Seoni plant has been designed around resource efficiency, producing ethanol along with co-products including Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and Distillers Corn Oil (DCO), which are primarily used in poultry and cattle feed.
The facility also features water recovery and reuse systems and operates under a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) framework, aimed at reducing water consumption and improving the efficient use of natural resources.
Commenting on the development, Anuj Agarwal, Founder & Chairman, SunBridge Group, said: “The commencement of ethanol production at our Seoni facility marks an important step in SunBridge’s journey into bioenergy. Our focus is to build a scalable bioenergy platform that brings together energy and resource efficiency, while creating meaningful value for farmers and rural economies.
"The Seoni facility is the beginning of this journey, and we see significant potential to build on this foundation as India’s bioenergy ecosystem evolves, transitioning towards sustainable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.”
SunBridge BioEnergy uses damaged food grains, including maize and broken rice, as feedstock for its fuel-grade ethanol production. The company said the model also supports farming communities by creating a productive use for damaged and broken rice that is unsuitable for human consumption.
The Seoni plant is part of SunBridge Group’s broader strategy to build long-term businesses spanning consumer products, bioenergy and solar energy, in line with India’s evolving consumption and energy requirements.
With its bioenergy business, the group is seeking to develop a future-ready platform centred on renewable fuels, circular economy practices and responsible manufacturing, while contributing to energy security, sustainability and rural economic growth.
