Challenges to Biofuels in India

IAS Current Affairs

1 year ago

Source for Challenges to Biofuels in India: The Hindu
GS III: Environment

Overview

Why in the News?

Recently concluded G20 summit where India initiated Global Biofuel Alliance.

This summit is expected to strengthen the development of sustainable biofuels.
Biofuels can be used in existing ICE engines and infrastructure with little to no modifications (depending on the blending rates) and offer import independence.
Still there are some Challenges of Biofuel Sustainability.

Biofuels are a category of renewable fuels derived from organic materials or biomass.
They are considered an alternative to fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel, and they are produced from a variety of renewable sources.
Biofuels are considered environmentally friendly because they typically produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions when burned compared to traditional fossil fuels.

Bioethanol:
- Source: Bioethanol is primarily produced from crops rich in sugars or starches, such as sugarcane, corn, wheat, and sorghum. These crops are fermented to produce ethanol.
- Production Process: The production process typically involves fermenting the sugars in the crop with yeast to convert them into ethanol. It can also be produced from cellulosic biomass, which includes agricultural and forestry residues.
- Use: Bioethanol is commonly used as an additive in gasoline (E10, E15, or E85), where it reduces the carbon footprint of gasoline and enhances octane levels.
Biodiesel:
- Source: Biodiesel is primarily derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking oils. Common feedstocks include soybean oil, canola oil, palm oil, and used frying oils.
- Production Process: Biodiesel is produced through a chemical process called transesterification, which involves reacting the feedstock (vegetable oil or animal fat) with an alcohol, typically methanol or ethanol, to produce biodiesel and glycerin.
- Use: Biodiesel can be used as a direct substitute for diesel fuel (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel in various proportions (B5, B20) to reduce emissions and improve lubricity.

As biofuel is a blanket term used for both sustainable and unsustainable fuels it’s important to have an understanding of it to have effective decarbonisation action.
Indian policy of achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26 are mostly relying on the 1^st generation biofuels.
It is primarily made from sugar cane and food grains.

Land Use and Food vs. Fuel Debate: The large-scale production of biofuels can compete with food production and may lead to concerns about food security and land use changes.
Energy Intensity of Production: The energy required to produce biofuels, especially from certain feedstocks, can offset some of their environmental benefits.
Biodiversity Impacts: Large-scale monoculture farming for biofuel feedstocks can have negative impacts on biodiversity.
Competition with Forests: The expansion of biofuel crops, especially palm oil, has been associated with deforestation and habitat destruction in some regions.

What is first-generation Biofuel?

First-generation biofuels are a category of biofuels that are produced from food crops or other readily available plant materials.
These biofuels are typically made from crops that are rich in sugars, starches, or vegetable oils.
First-generation biofuels have been used as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel and are considered the initial phase of biofuel production.

Because crops like sugarcane primarily rely on water, groundwater levels are being depleted.
According to a paper from the University of Michigan, groundwater depletion might quadruple between 2040 and ’81.
Growing crops for energy or diverting crop surpluses to energy production may not be sustainable methods.
Yields are anticipated to decrease due to India’s stagnant agricultural output and the threat of global warming.
The food security of the expanding population would face difficulties if yields were to decline.
There would be no net advantage from increasing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from agriculture to lower GHG from motor vehicle emissions.

Sustainable biofuels are produced from crop residues and other wastes with low water and GHG footprint.
G-20 summit and Global Biofuel Alliance that was formed during this summit in New Delhi acted as a historic moment for India for its commitment towards sustainable formation of biofuels with global cooperation.
The Global Biofuels Alliance could help drive innovation and technology development in establishing an efficient biomass supply chain decentralised biofuel production units.
Energy Transitions Commission reported in ‘Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy’, highlighted that biomass should be prioritised in sectors where there are limited low-carbon alternatives.
As per the International Energy Agency, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the world has to shift to sustainable biofuel production and triple its production by 2030.
2G ethanol could act as a sustainable fuel if its production is decentralised, which means crop residues do not have to be transported large distances to a central manufacturing plant. But this might affect achieving economies of scale for the 2G plant.

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