Biofuels typically refer to liquid fuels produced from biomass. Biofuels are of high importance mainly owing to their use as transportation fuels, to partially or fully substitute gasoline and diesel. The two prominent biofuels in this context are ethanol (for petrol/gasoline replacement) and biodiesel (for diesel replacement).
Growth Potential
India has been aggressively pursuing biofuels to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The country aims to achieve a 20% ethanol blending with gasoline and a 5% blending with biodiesel by 2030. This initiative is part of the National Policy on Biofuels 2018, which outlines a strategic vision for biofuel adoption.
Production and Use
- Ethanol: India primarily produces ethanol from sugarcane molasses, a byproduct of sugar production. In 2020, India produced approximately 2.5 billion liters of ethanol. The government aims to increase ethanol production to 12 billion liters by 2030 to meet the 20% ethanol blending target with gasoline.
- Biodiesel: Biodiesel in India is produced from non-edible oilseeds, waste cooking oil, and animal fats. As of 2020, India produced around 1.2 billion liters of biodiesel. The target is to increase this to 6 billion liters by 2030 for a 5% blending with diesel.
Carbon Emission Reductions
- Achieving the target of 20% ethanol blending by 2030 could reduce CO? emissions by around 50 million tonnes annually, as ethanol emits fewer pollutants compared to gasoline.
- Biodiesel blending at 5% could save approximately 6 million tonnes of CO? emissions per year, given its cleaner burn compared to conventional diesel.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
- Energy Security: Biofuels enhance energy security by reducing India's reliance on imported crude oil. India imports about 80% of its crude oil needs, and biofuels provide a domestic alternative.
- Rural Development: Biofuel production creates rural employment opportunities and boosts the agricultural sector. It can provide direct employment to over 1 million people by 2030, including farming, processing, and logistics.
- Waste Management: Biofuels help manage waste effectively. Converting waste cooking oil and animal fats into biodiesel addresses waste disposal issues while providing a clean fuel source.
Key Technology
- Second Generation (2G) Biofuels: These are produced from non-food biomass such as agricultural residues and woody crops.
- Third Generation (3G) Biofuels: Derived from algae, these biofuels offer higher yields and minimal land and water usage. Research and pilot projects are underway to optimize algal biofuel production.
- Feedstock Diversification: Diversifying feedstock sources to include non-food crops and waste materials will address the food vs. fuel debate. Initiatives to use bamboo, grasses, and other fast-growing plants as feedstock are underway. Promoting the cultivation of energy crops like Jatropha and Pongamia on degraded lands could provide additional biomass for biodiesel production without competing with food crops.
- Pyrolysis: This thermochemical process converts biomass into bio-oil, which can be further refined into biodiesel. It increases efficiency and scalability of biofuel production.
- Biomass-to-Liquid (BtL) Technologies: These convert solid biomass into liquid fuels, offering potential for higher efficiency and scalability.
- Carbon Capture and Utilization: Implementing carbon capture technologies at ethanol fermentation facilities can further reduce the carbon footprint of biofuel production. Captured CO? can be utilized in various industrial applications.
- Vehicle Engine Customizations: Customizing vehicle engines to optimize performance with higher biofuel blends is essential for broader adoption. Flex-fuel vehicles, capable of running on varying proportions of ethanol blends, are being promoted.
Challenges
- Feedstock Availability: Scaling biofuel production faces challenges like ensuring a consistent and adequate supply of suitable feedstock.
- Environmental Concerns: Large-scale cultivation of crops for biofuels can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and other environmental issues.
