This report forms part of a project aiming to develop a South-South-North partnership to reshape the impact of a predicted large-scale expansion in global biomass energy use towards greater poverty reduction and maintenance of ecosystem services in developing countries. The consortium of partners represents leading biomass energy researchers from multiple disciplines. Traditionally, use of biomass as energy in India is characterized by low efficiency and environmental degradation. Multiple government programmes to promote bioenergy technologies over the last three decades have been unable to achieve their potential. However, India is currently experiencing a surge in energy demand. Growing import dependence and greater consensus at policy level about the need and utility of tapping into national bio-resources for energy supply has created impetus for greater research initiatives, private investment and promotion of bioenergy technologies.