Context
The Union Cabinet has advanced the target for achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by five years.
About Biofuel policy
- The National Biofuel Policy, introduced in 2018 was aimed at reducing dependence on imports by encouraging fuel blending.
- Biofuels are a class of renewable energy derived from living materials.
- The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) headed by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas is the agency to coordinate the blending programme.
- With bioethanol, biodiesel and bio-CNG in focus, its key parts include-
- Ethanol Blending Programme (EPB)
- Production of second generation ethanol (derived from forest and agricultural residues)
- Increasing capacity for production of fuel additives
- R&D in feedstock, which is the starting material for ethanol production
- Financial incentives for achieving these goals
- Initially with a 20% blending target for 2030, the central government had announced premium rates for ethanol produced from sugar syrup, cane juice as well as B heavy molasses.
Categorisation of biofuels
- Biofuels are generally classified into three categories. They are-
- First generation biofuels - First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Common first-generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas
- Second generation biofuels - These are produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood). Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, biomethanol.
- Third generation biofuels - These are produced from micro-organisms like algae
Amendments recently made
- The most important amendment has been advancing the 20% blending date by five years from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2030 to 2025-26.
- It provided for the introduction of more feedstock for production of biofuels.
- It has also proposed for the production of biofuels under the ‘Make in India’ programme in Special Economic Zones, Export Oriented Units.
- It also permits the export of biofuels in specific cases.
- Apart from addition of new members to the NBCC, the Committee has now been given the permission to change the policy which it earlier lacked.
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About Ethanol
- Ethanol is an organic chemical compound.
- It is simple alcohol with the chemical formula C2H6O.
- It is a volatile, flammable, colourless liquid with a characteristic wine-like odour and pungent taste.
- Ethanol can be produced from crops that have high starch content like sugarcane, maize, wheat, etc.
- In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molasses by the fermentation process.
- Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to form different blends.
- As the ethanol molecule contains oxygen, it allows the engine to better combust the fuel.
- o It results in fewer emissions and thereby reduces the occurrence of environmental pollution.
- Since ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, ethanol is also considered a renewable fuel.
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