Current Affairs
Daily Bits

Advancement of Ethanol Blending Target

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    21st May, 2022

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.

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.

Verifying, please be patient.

X