The hunt for possible energy resources that are renewable and might perhaps bring down the GHGs emission has been carried out for decades. The consumption of bio-ethanol in India, the 6th largest producer of biofuels globally has drawn the attention of those interested in sustainable climate. Indian production and consumption of ethanol, a renewable energy source, that generates comparatively a lower carbon footprint in comparison to conventional fuels, indicates the promising role of bio-fuels in regulating and mitigating the global temperature. Could ethanol be the potential substitute for a sustainable and greener future?
How can India boost its biofuels?
The pre-dominant biofuel currently used in India is sugarcane-based ethanol, typically made from sugarcane molasses. The Indian government is already looking forward to an ambitious target of achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) and 50% energy share from renewable sources by 2030, followed up with a net-zero emission by 2070 pledge conveyed at COP26.
The transportation sector in India imparts about 10 per cent of total GHGs. Out of the total emissions 87 per cent comes from road transportation. Aiming for net-zero emission by 2070 indicates road transport’s remarkable overhaul. While hydrogen fuel or electric vehicles may be considered as clean future fuel in the long run, biofuels are anticipated to play a major role in the oncoming days. With this rationale, Indian Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari on November 11 2021, mandated the flex-fuel engines in the near future.
In contrast to standard engines where the blending ratio cannot exceed 20%, the flex-fuel engines have an upper hand that they can be operated with 100 per cent biofuels. The flex-fuel or better say flexible fuels, are mostly biofuels combined with gasoline, methanol or ethanol where the blending ratio can be shifted from zero to 100 per cent.
India is all set to pay out $7 billion to spur ethanol production to roll out a greener mix of gasoline to cut its dependence on foreign oil. In June 2021, IOCL released data that showed that around 10 billion litres of bio-ethanol would be required each year to meet the 20% ethanol-blended fuel standard by 2025.
To date, around 196 projects with a capacity to produce 859.11 crore litres of ethanol annually from grains such as rice and corn have got approval from Union Food Ministry since January 2021.
The 2022-23 budget will probably see the Indian government’s attempt to reduce its revenue and current account deficit, preparing a huge push for domestic manufacturing to lower reliance on big-budget fossil fuel imports.
Concerns about Production and Consumption of Ethanol
A vital contradictory point to bio-ethanol is energy efficiency in comparison to petroleum. A gallon of fuel spirit is seen to produce much lower energy than a gallon of pure gasoline, thus causing a lower fuel economy. The U.S. Department of Energy elucidated that E85 [blend of 15% gasoline with 85% ethanol] has 27% less efficiency per gallon than pure gasoline. Additionally, boosting the fuel economy of bio-ethanol vehicles with modified engines and higher ethanol blends would require a significant amount of time and cost.
The impact of ethanol on food security and agriculture commodity prices could also be a major concerning reason, as the production of bio-ethanol would lead to an increase in feedstock demand, eventually raising their prices, in the world’s second-most populous country.
Worldwide approaches to ethanol production
Besides India, there are other countries that encourage bio-ethanol production and utilization. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, the daily production of ethanol in the United States is 1.1. million barrels, using corn as the main feedstock.
Brazil the second-largest ethanol producer worldwide uses corn as the main feedstock for ethanol and soybean for biodiesel. China, the third-largest producer of ethanol, like the U.S., uses corn as a prime feedstock. Bio-ethanol produced from corn accounts for about 70% of ethanol production in China. In 2017, China made it obligatory to use E10 fuel from 2020. Sweden has aimed of generating net-zero GHGs emissions by 2050, has been engaged in producing ethanol since the 1990s. Ethanol accounts for about 34% of Sweden’s biofuel.
The recent alterations in climate invite us to inspect and evaluate the potential of bio-ethanol, counting its viable risks that should continuously be checked and minimized.
Aakansha holds a master's degree in biotechnology and is currently working as a research scholar. An avid reader, Aakansha finds keen interest in reading and writing on areas related to clean energy and zero carbon emissions.
A CSR Initiative of
Designed and Executed by
Implemented by
Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
Leave A Comment