Climate change and the environment have taken centre stage in the landscape of businesses and brands. This is why most world conventions and conferences consider the ecological aspects in their respective agendas. It has further motivated the economies to take preventive measures and introduce environment-friendly initiatives. Ethanol Blended Petrol or EBP Programme is one such step towards a sustainable future where this biofuel is transforming the ways of the world.

All we know about ethanol is that it’s a result of processing sugar by-product, molasses. So this blog answers some frequently asked questions about this green fuel. Go through these and have a deeper understanding of this product. You will also get to know how the government is encouraging ethanol manufacturing companies in Indiato enhance production.

What environmental benefits does ethanol offer?

Did you know that ethanol contains 35% oxygen? When you blend it with traditional fuel like petrol, it results in comprehensive fuel combustion. Hence, reduced carbon monoxide emissions which is one of the huge contributors to the greenhouse effect. Being a high-octane fuel, ethanol replaces toxic octane boosters. In addition to this, ethanol is not derived from fossil fuels. And as it is not perishable like them, it can be produced from food-based crops like sugar and maize.

What are the uses of ethanol?

We know it is widely used as a main ingredient in producing alternative fuel. Because bio-ethanol is widely used in the automotive industry. The green alternative has many generations like 1G and 2G about which the Indian Government is spreading awareness.

What are the demand and supply prospects of Ethanol in India?

India is a flourishing base for green fuel-based vehicles because we heavily rely on imported fuels and need alternatives to cater to such a huge population. This is the reason why the Government of India also introduced the National Policy on Biofuels in 2018 which aims to achieve targets of 20% blending in Petrol by 2030. It also aims to achieve 5% blending in Diesel by the end of the same period. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme is taking this initiative towards its goal at a rapid speed.

What are 1G and 2G Ethanol?

First generation or 1G Ethanol is obtained by fermenting C5 and C6 sugars like Xylose and Glucose. Its production is hassle-free because it uses crops like sugarcane and corn that are rich in easily fermentable sugars. Coming to the second generation or 2G ethanol, it is a programme that is centred on using non-food feedstock. These include cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials, where the latter is a blend of lignin and cellulose, both are plant components. Even Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana has been introduced to promote bioethanol production and motivate ethanol manufacturing companies in India to amplify their operations.

Does ethanol offer any positive energy balance?

Positive energy balance simply means that the energy spent on producing something is less than the energy that is obtained by the process. In ethanol-related matters, a clear energy balance takes place when the process of producing ethanol fuel does not require more energy. But the amount of energy obtained at the end of the process is greater than the expended energy. So we can say that ethanol does offer a positive energy balance. Some ethanol manufacturers also take the sustainable approach to produce energy at the plant itself through co-generation. Its greatest example is bagasse, the fibrous waste that is left after extracting the sugarcane juice. It is burned to produce steam, a perfect alternative for generating thermal energy based electricity.

Conclusion

The world is embracing ethanol as a renewable future biofuel. The GOI has taken appropriate measures to boost its adoption rate. Even the automobile industry is coming up with such vehicles that support the green fuel initiative. With everyone being on the same page, it is yet to be seen how fast the common man can embrace the change.