India as the world’s third-largest biofuel producer

Context

According to the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India has emerged as the sector’s third-largest biofuel producer.

What are Biofuels?

• Biofuels are alternative fuels made from plant and plant-derived sources.
• Example: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green diesel, Biogas and so on.
• Generations of Biofuels: Biofuels may be categorized into distinctive generations based on the feedstocks used and the tactics involved in their production.
• First Generation: They are crafted from food plants like corn, sugarcane, wheat, and vegetable oils.
• Second Generation: They are crafted from biomass extracted from agricultural waste or waste plant material like non-food feedstocks corn stover.
• Third Generation: These are frequently derived from algae and other microorganisms. 
• Fourth Generation: They are crafted from genetically modified species crops. These consist of artificial biology and microorganisms engineered to provide particular biofuels.

National Policy on Biofuels, 2018

• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022) gives a framework for growing the use of biofuels in India to decorate strength security.
• It will permit extra feedstocks for manufacturing of biofuels.
• The Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
• The coverage will increase the ethanol blending goal of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 from 2030.
  • It will promote the manufacturing of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India software, by gadgets placed in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs).

Significance of Biofuel Expansion

• Economic Growth: The initiative has additionally stored India about Rs. 85,000 crore in foreign exchange via decreasing crude oil imports.
• Environmental Benefits: The shift towards ethanol-primarily based fuels has caused a large reduction in CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to planting 175 million trees.
  • It promotes a round economic system by converting waste into energy.
• Benefits for Farmers: Ethanol manufacturing affords an alternative market for sugarcane, maize, and surplus food grains, boosting rural earning.
  • It strengthens the sugar enterprise, making it less dependent on government subsidies.
• During the Ethanol Supply Year 2023-24, Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme helped in a cost of about Rs 23,100 crore to the farmers.

Challenges in Biofuel Expansion

• Feedstock Constraints: Sugarcane-based ethanol is water-intensive, placing strain on water assets.
  • Slow adoption of second-generation (2G) biofuels, as technology is still evolving and luxurious.
• Infrastructure Issues: Limited ethanol blending infrastructure, along with dedicated pipelines and storage facilities.
  • Inadequate refineries and mixing stations, leading to supply chain inefficiencies.
  • There are challenges in transporting ethanol, as it’s rather flammable and requires separate logistics.

Government Efforts for Biofuel Expansion

• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran Yojana): It promotes 2G ethanol manufacturing from agricultural waste and residues.
• GOBAR-Dhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan): It promotes biogas and bio-CNG production from farm animals dung and organic waste.
• SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): It promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) manufacturing as a fuel alternative, and targets the status quo of 5,000 CBG plants by 2025.

Way Ahead

• There is a need to reinforce monetary incentives for superior biofuels like 2G, 3G.
• Expand biogas and bio-CNG adoption in rural and urban shipping.
• Invest in biofuel R&D for value reduction and performance development.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020)

1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Ans: (a)

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