News Highlight
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day, the PM rooted for energy independence, stating that “we need to be Aatmanirbhar (self-sufficient) in our energy sector.”
Key Takeaway
- The Prime Minister of India announced that India had achieved its target of ethanol blending of 10% sugarcane extracted ethanol in petrol, ahead of schedule.
What is ethanol?
- Ethanol is an agricultural by-product which is mainly obtained from the processing of sugar from sugarcane, but also from other sources such as rice husks or maise.
What is ethanol blending?
- Ethanol blending is the process of mixing petrol with ethanol.
- The mixture is called Ethanol Fuel / Gasohol, which is considered a quasi-renewable energy source.
India’s blending target
- The government of India has advanced the target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025 from 2030.
Benefits of ethanol blending
- Bring down oil imports:
- India has been importing almost 85% of its oil.
- Ethanol blending will help bring down our share of oil imports on which we spend a considerable amount of our precious foreign exchange.
- Increase farmers’ incomes:
- The farmers would get a higher return for their production.
- Since the ethanol blend mainly depends on the availability of agricultural crops, such as sugar cane.
- Help to achieve commitments:
- As per the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), India is now committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030.
- Apart from that, India, at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties-26 (CoP-26), announced its enhanced climate commitments, including a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
- Reduce dependency on Petroleum:
- By blending ethanol into gasoline, it can reduce the amount of petrol required to run a car, thereby reducing dependence on imported, expensive, and polluting petroleum.
- Lower environmental pollution:
- Ethanol is a less polluting fuel; hence it helps to mitigate the adverse impacts of vehicle-related emissions.
Challenges of ethanol blending
- E20 compliant vehicles:
- The petrol points, plastics, rubber, steel and other components in vehicles would need to be compliant to hold/store fuel that is 20% ethanol. Without such a change, rust is an obvious impediment.
- Food security concerns.
- The sugar and corn production for ethanol blending may raise the price of sugar and maise for food.
- Ecological concern:
- Sugarcane is one of the most water-consuming crops.
- More extraction of water would reduce the ground level of water.
- Efficiency:
- Fossil fuels produce more energy than some biofuels. E.g. 1 gallon of ethanol produces less energy as compared to 1 gallon of gasoline (a fossil fuel).
- Non-uniform availability:
- Ethanol is not produced or available in some states for ethanol blending.
- Hence, the transport of ethanol to different places for blending will increase the cost of logistics and transport-related emissions.
Government programs aimed to improve Ethanol Blending
- National Policy on Biofuels (NBP) -2018:
- This policy envisages an indicative target of blending 20% ethanol into petrol by 2030.
- Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Scheme:
- Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana aims to create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and boosting research and development in the 2G ethanol sector.
Way forward
- Augmenting ethanol producing capacity:
- According to NITI Aayog, to achieve 20% ethanol blending, India has to augment both the sugarcane-based and grain-based ethanol production capacities by 78% and 187%, respectively.
- Ethanol From Wastes:
- India has a real opportunity here to become a global leader in sustainable biofuel policy if it chooses to refocus on ethanol made from waste food particles.
- This would ensure an adequate food supply and reduce the price of sugar, maise etc.
- Water Crisis:
- The government should make sure that the ethanol policy doesn’t drive farmers toward water-intensive crops and create a water crisis in a country where the shortage is already acute.
- Alternative Mechanism:
- To achieve the key goal, that is, emissions reduction, alternative mechanisms-enhanced Electric Vehicles uptake, installation of additional renewable generation capacity to allow zero-emissions recharging, etc.-need to be evaluated.
Pic Courtesy: freepik
Content Source: The Hindu