The World Biofuel Day is celebrated every year on August 10th to raise awareness about the significance of non-fossil fuels as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has been observing this day for the past three years, with participation from diverse groups such as Members of Parliament, Students, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Ambassadors, and Government officers. Following the inaugural session, interactive discussions on ethanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG, and second-generation biofuels are scheduled.
Ethanol: A Renewable Fuel
Ethanol, a renewable fuel derived from various plant materials collectively known as “biomass,” is available as E85 (or flex fuel). This fuel can be used in flexible fuel vehicles designed to run on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Another blend, E15, is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer vehicles.
Bio-Diesel: An Alternative to Fossil Diesel
Bio-diesel, similar to conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel, can be produced from straight vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow, and waste cooking oil. The transformation process of these oils into bio-diesel is called transesterification. One primary advantage of bio-diesel is its ‘carbon neutrality,’ implying that the fuel produces no net output of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Bio-CNG: The Purified Form of Biogas
Bio-CNG is the purified form of Biogas, wherein all unwanted gases are removed to produce pure methane gas. Identical in composition and energy potential to commercially available natural gas, Bio-CNG is regarded as a renewable energy source and therefore attracts commercial benefits applicable to other renewable energy sources.
Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)
EBP’s objective is to blend ethanol with petrol, categorizing it under biofuels and saving millions of dollars by reducing fuel imports. This program will increase the availability of ethanol due to higher prices for C heavy molasses-based ethanol and first-time procurement of ethanol from B heavy molasses and sugarcane juice. The Government has also reduced the GST on ethanol for blending in fuel from 18% to 5%.
National Policy on Biofuels
The goal of Biofuel policy is to achieve 20% ethanol-blending and 5% biodiesel-blending by 2030. The policy expands the scope of feedstock for ethanol production and provides incentives for advanced biofuels production.
Difference between Basic and Advance Biofuels
First-generation biofuels are produced from the sugars and vegetable oils found in food crops using standard processing technologies. Second-generation biofuels or advanced biofuels are manufactured from various types of non-food biomass, which may require different technology for energy extraction. Second-generation feedstocks include lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste, and dedicated non-food energy crops grown on marginal land not suitable for crop production.
Indian Government’s initiatives on Biofuels
The Indian government has simplified procurement procedures for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and amended the provisions of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951. It has enabled lignocellulosic route for ethanol procurement and established an administrative price mechanism for ethanol.
Other Facts
India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer after China and the US, relying on imports for about 82.1% of its crude oil requirement and 44.4% for natural gas. Oil PSUs are planning to set up twelve second-generation (2G) biorefineries to increase ethanol supply and address environmental issues arising from agricultural biomass burning. The biofuels program aligns with other Government of India initiatives such as Make in India and Swachh Bharat Mission.