In recent years, the Indian government has been increasingly prioritizing the phasing out of old diesel vehicles, aiming to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices. This shift has sparked discussions about alternative fuels that can replace traditional petrol and diesel. One such contender gaining attention is ethanol, a biofuel derived primarily from sugarcane.
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a renewable fuel that can be produced from various organic materials, with sugarcane being a prominent source of ethanol because it contains sucrose, which is necessary for certain methods of ethanol synthesis. Several different feedstocks produce ethanol in India, including sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses, and C-heavy molasses. The current breakdown is as follows: sugarcane juice accounts for 20% of ethanol production, B-heavy molasses 60%, and C-heavy molasses a small share.
India has achieved its target of blending 10% ethanol into gasoline using sugarcane as raw material ahead of schedule. In addition to it, a blending of 20% ethanol by the Indian government by 2025, may reap substantial benefits.
Even while this success has numerous advantages and disadvantages, a closer examination shows that an estimated Rs 30,000 crore in annual savings on foreign exchange, energy security, reduced carbon emissions, improved air quality, self-sufficiency, use of broken-down foodgrains, elevated farmer incomes, employment growth, and more investment opportunities are all anticipated.
The blend of ethanol with gasoline is predicted to cut carbon dioxide emissions from greenhouse gases by about 300,000 tons annually. By avoiding the burning of agricultural leftovers, the production of ethanol from them can assist farmers and the air quality. Reduced global maize production and moves in many developing nations to combine ethanol are expected to boost India's exports.
However, the overall manufacture of ethanol is a significant challenge, and the usage of water from crops used in ethanol production is a topic of much discussion. The least expensive types of ethanol production come from sugarcane. A ton of sugar yields about 70 liters of ethanol and requires 2,860 Liters of water on average. Also, the battle for land to grow crops and produce biofuels has further impacted staple food prices and biofuel prices. Achieving sustainable and optimum sugarcane production requires implementing farmer-friendly techniques that promote efficiency, environment-friendly practices & economic viability.
Conclusion
India's concerted effort to transition from aging vehicles to ethanol hybrids reflects the country's commitment to environmental sustainability and energy diversity. Reaching the 10% ethanol blending target ahead of schedule is a great achievement. The target is to reach 20% blend by 2025. The strategy has great potential, as demonstrated by the desired results such as reducing carbon emissions, improving energy security, and saving Rs 30,000 Crore annually. However, issues such as competition for land and water for ethanol production for biofuels are concerning. The ethanol program has the potential to reduce pollution, support farmers, and increase exports, but managing the environmental and agricultural impacts of the project is critical.
Name: Ankur Malik Batch: 2023-25
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