World Biofuel Day – All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains

Hence, biofuel has been endorsed as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel and energy sources both at the national and global levels. 

Understanding Biofuels

The fuel derived from the biomass of plants or animal wastes is known as biofuel. It is commonly produced from corn, sugarcane and animal waste like cow dung. Since these sources are renewable unlike fossil fuels, they come under renewable sources of energy. The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

1. Ethanol: It is produced by fermentation of residues of crops like corn and sugarcane. The ethanol after fermentation is mixed with petroleum, which dilutes the latter and reduces the emissions. Ethanol-10 or E10 is the most common blend in which 10 per cent composition is Ethanol.

2. Biodiesel: It is produced from used cooking oil, yellow grease or animal fats. During its production, cooking oil or fat is burned with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, which produces Biodiesel.

Diagram explaining the process of production of ethanol (Image: Screengrab-https://afdc.energy.gov/)

Importance of Biofuels

1. Environmental Benefits: Biofuels hold great environmental significance as they not only offer the potential to mitigate some of the negative environmental consequences of fossil fuel production and usage, such as greenhouse gas pollution and the issue of finite resource depletion but also provide the medium for better waste management.

2. Energy Security: India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 percent of its requirements. A rising energy demand and high reliance on imports present energy security challenges for India. In this context, we can say that biofuel can help in ensuring energy security as well.

3. Economic Benefits: Increased use of biofuel will help reduce the dependence on imported oil and, in turn, adjust India’s import bill. The production of biofuels through crops like corn, sugarcane, etc., could also increase farm income and help address the challenges of sales and storage associated with the over-production of food grains and sugar.

Government Initiatives and Policies on Biofuels

The Government of India has implemented several initiatives to increase the blending of biofuels. The government is promoting biofuels intending to reduce import dependency, improve farmers’ remuneration, and address environmental concerns, as well as promote better waste management practices.

1. National Policy on Biofuel

The Indian government approved the “National Policy on Biofuel” in 2018. It aims at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending. With bioethanol, biodiesel, and bio-CNG in focus, its key parts include the Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB), production of second-generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues), increasing capacity for the production of fuel additives under the “Make in India” program, R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production, and financial incentives for achieving these goals.

In May 2022 due to biofuel advancements, the policy was amended to introduce several changes. The most important amendment has been advancing the 20% blending date by five years from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2030 to 2025-26.

2. Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)

The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is a multi-stakeholder alliance that includes governments, international organizations, and industries. It was formally launched last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the leaders of the USA, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Singapore, Bangladesh, Mauritius and the UAE on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. 

The alliance aims to facilitate international cooperation and promote the use of sustainable biofuels. Additionally, it aims to facilitate global biofuel trade and provide technical support for national biofuel programs. 24 countries and 12 international organizations have already agreed to join the alliance.

3. Reduced GST on Ethanol: To promote ethanol blending, the government reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate from 18% to 5% on ethanol intended for blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

4. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana: The government has notified Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana to promote Second Generation (2G) ethanol production from cellulosic and lignocellulosic including petrochemical routes in the country by providing financial support.

India’s Progress on the Path of Sustainable Energy through Biofuels

India has overcome initial challenges and achieved success in its ethanol-petrol blending program in recent years. This success has led the government to expedite the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, a mixture of 20% anhydrous ethanol with 80% motor gasoline fuel volume by volume by moving the deadline up to 2025-26 from the original target of 2030. 

The government has stated that the country is on track to meet this revised timeline. Additionally, India is exploring the possibility of blending diesel with suitable biofuels and natural gas with biogas.

India’s Progress on the Path of Sustainable Energy through Biofuels (Source: Ethanol Booklet 2023 by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)

Focus on ethanol has impacted the environment as well as life of the farmers positively. During 2013-14, 38 crore liters of ethanol were purchased, which  increased more than 10 times to 408 crore liters in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 21-22. In ESY 21-22 approximately `25,750 crore of ethanol was purchased, a large sum of which  went into the pocket of our farmers. It has especially benefitted the sugarcane farmers, according to Ethanol Booklet 2023 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Harish Damodaran Writes— 

India’s ethanol production programme has come a long way in the past five years, both in terms of the quantities supplied by sugar mills/distilleries to oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the raw material used — from cane molasses and juice to rice, damaged grains, maize and, down the line, millets.

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Issues and Challenges Related to Biofules

There are some issues and challenges associated with biofuels:

1. Environmental issues:  Biofuel production and use have environmental consequences such as increased land and water resource requirements and air and groundwater pollution. Also the growing demand for biofuels can change the cropping pattern and hit the crop basket.

As  per the report,

One litre of ethanol from sugar requires about 2,860 litres of water.

2. Food versus Fuel challenge: There is also concern regarding the balance between food security and energy security, depending on the choice of feedstock and the production process in the context of biofuels.

Thus, a well-balanced strategy should be followed to attain the goal of sustainable energy while ensuring the food and economic security of the country.

Post Read Questions

Prelims

(1) 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

(2)With reference to the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), consider the following statements:

1. GBA is a France-led initiative towards the goal of sustainability and clean energy.

2. The alliance is aimed at facilitating international cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels.

3. All the member countries are members of G20.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

(3) Consider the following statements regarding ethanol:

1. Ethanol yields from grains are higher than from molasses.

2. Under the ethanol blending programme, the government has fixed the target of 20% blending of ethanol with petrol by 2025.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

(1) What do you understand by bioenergy, and how is it generated? Explain how it will aid in meeting India’s energy needs.

(2) What are the prevailing challenges on India’s path to sustainable energy? What should be the way forward?

(Source: Ethanol+petrol: How to blend more and blend better, Biofuels, their future, Ethanol Booklet 2023, PM formally launches Global Biofuels Alliance, PIB)

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