Bioethanol Initiatives In India

India is one of the fastest-growing economies and the third-largest consumer of energy worldwide, standing right after the US and China in the ranks. To become a USD 5 trillion economy, as a developing nation, there is one thing that India will need for sure - an uninterrupted supply of energy.

The exploitation of fossil fuels, across the globe, has not only depleted the resources but has also caused irreversible climate change, the consequences of which have started becoming apparent. Moreover, due to fluctuations in oil and gas prices in the international markets, tensions in the Middle East, and conflicts among the power blocks (USA & China), India’s energy security will remain vulnerable until alternative fuels are researched on, developed and put into use. Renewable sources such as hydropower, solar power, bio-fuels etc can prove to be sustainable alternatives and can cater to India’s energy requirement.
Keeping all this in view, India launched the National Biofuel Policy in 2008, which aims at assisting India to diversify its energy basket, become energy efficient and help the nation to achieve its NDC as committed at the COP21. 

Bioethanol Initiatives

Stressing on the importance of biofuels, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5th June 2021, released the report of the “Expert Committee on Roadmap for ethanol blending in India by 2025”.  The ethanol blending program under the biofuel policy will not only reduce India’s import bill - saving the country’s USD 4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) per annum, benefit the sugarcane farmers, encourage the use of water sparing crops such as maize and non-food feedstock to produce ethanol but will also decrease harmful emissions. 

Some of the initiatives undertaken in India are listed below:

India plans to invest approximately $7 billion in its biofuels policy to boost ethanol production. The government has proposed to increase the ethanol production to 1500 crore litres from the current capacity of 700 crore litres, phased a rollout of 10% ethanol-blended fuel (E10) by April 2022 and E10 tuned engine vehicles from April 2023, phased a rollout of 20% ethanol-blended fuel (E20) by April 2023, introducing E20 material compliant and production of engine vehicles that are E20 tuned from April 2025, single-window mechanism for expediting regulatory clearances for ethanol distilleries, unrestricted movement of denatured ethanol all over the country and tax incentives.

The National Policy on Biofuels 2018, sets the target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025. The government has made it mandatory for the vehicles to mention their E20, E85 or E100 compatibility.

Promoting Flex-fuel engines which can run any ratio of blended petrol from E20 to E100.

The E100 project has been introduced in Pune on a pilot basis. TVS Apache two-wheelers have already been designed to run on E80 or E100.

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana 2019, aims to create a favourable environment for commercial projects and promote research and development in the 2G ethanol sector.

GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN Scheme 2018, aims to generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste, generate new rural livelihood opportunities, double farmers income and also affect rural cleanliness.

FSSAI has launched the Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative for collecting and converting used cooking oil to biodiesel.

ICAR – CTCRI (Central Tuber Crops Research Institute) have found “CASSAVA” as a potential raw material over sugarcane for commercial production of bioethanol.

The International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) has developed a method to use “Cyanobacterium” for biofuels generation.

Recently the union government has allowed the conversion of surplus rice to ethanol. The Department of biotechnology has taken the initiative to develop indigenous cellulolytic enzymes to produce biofuels, strengthen international collaboration to accelerate innovation in sustainable biofuels through multilateral programs like the Atal Innovation mission itself.

HPCL plans to set up four 2G ethanol plants that will convert agri- waste and food stock into biofuels. The first such 2G ethanol bio-refinery is being installed at Bathinda, Punjab. In collaboration with IIT Tirupati, HPCL has also invested in a Bangalore based ASN Fuels for setting up a 2G Ethanol Pilot plant at Tirupati.

TATA plans to set up 2G ethanol plants in collaboration with HPCL, HRRL and BPCL.

Since the government is making sincere efforts to increase the share of renewable resources in total power generated and is working on war footing to reduce carbon footprint, many more projects will be undertaken by the Government in the upcoming years under the Biofuel Policy.