Biofuel – UPSC Notes – Environment

Biofuel is a hydrocarbon fuel derived from organic material, offering alternatives to fossil fuels. Ethanol and biodiesel are prominent biofuels. Promoting biofuels in transportation, particularly in nations like India, can reduce the cost of importing crude oil. New cash crops for biofuels can boost rural and agricultural development. In India, Biodiesel Purchase Policy mandates the purchase of biodiesel by the petroleum industry. Additionally, 9 States and 4 Union Territories are required to blend 5% ethanol with gasoline according to the Ethanol Blending of Gasoline Mandate since January 1, 2003. Understanding Promotion of Biofuels is crucial for the UPSC Civil Service exam Environment Syllabus.

Biofuels

• Biofuel: Efficiently derived from biomass as an alternative to fossil fuels like oil.
• Biomass: Directly usable as fuel (e.g., wood logs), often interchangeable with biofuel.
• Biofuels: Available in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms.
• Drivers for switch to biofuels:
  • Rising oil prices
  • Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption
  • Interest in fuel from agricultural crops benefiting farmers.

Biofuels – Categories

First Generation Biofuels

• Produced using traditional technologies from food sources like sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats.
• Examples: Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable Oil, Bioethers, and Biogas.
• Simple conversion process, but using food sources drives up food costs and contributes to hunger.

Second Generation Biofuels

• Made from non-food crops or by-products of food crops considered wastes (e.g., fruit peels, husks, stems, wood chips).
• Produced through thermochemical reactions or biochemical conversion processes.
• Examples: Biodiesel and Cellulose Ethanol.
• No impact on food economy, but difficult to produce. Claimed to release fewer greenhouse gases compared to first-generation biofuels.

Third Generation Biofuels

• Made from microscopic organisms like algae.
• Example: Butanol.
• Algae can be cultivated on non-food-producing land and water, relieving pressure on water supplies. However, fertilizers used for growth may pollute the environment.

Fourth Generation Biofuels

• Crops genetically modified to absorb large amounts of carbon are cultivated and harvested as biomass.
• Utilizing second-generation processes, crops are transformed into fuel.
• Pre-combustion occurs, capturing carbon.
• Carbon is geo-sequestered (stored in coal seams or exhausted oil/gas fields), making some fuels carbon-negative, removing carbon from the environment during production.

Biofuels – Advantages

• Renewable Source: Biofuels derived from biomass are renewable.
• Source Material: Biofuels can be produced from various materials like crop waste, manure, and other wastes, unlike oil, which is a finite resource from limited sources.
• Environment Pollution: While emitting less carbon than fossil fuels, fertilizers used in biofuel production produce greenhouse gases. Biofuels can also aid in managing municipal solid waste by converting garbage into fuel.
• Security: Local biofuel production reduces reliance on imported energy, enhancing security by preserving energy resources’ integrity and protecting them from external influences.
• Economic Stimulation: Proximity of biofuel production creates local jobs, benefiting rural communities. Increased demand for biofuel crops stimulates the agricultural sector, boosting the economy.

Biofuels – Disadvantages

• Efficiency: Fossil fuels generally yield more energy compared to some biofuels. For example, ethanol provides less energy per gallon than gasoline (a fossil fuel).
• Cost: Extracting fossil fuels is challenging and expensive, leading to high costs. Production of biofuels requires land, impacting both their price and food crop prices.
• Biodiversity: While farmers may profit from planting transgenic biofuel crops, excessive cultivation can threaten biodiversity.
• Food Shortages: Use of important acreage for fuel crops raises concerns about food shortages and price increases.
• Water Use: Irrigation of biofuel crops and fuel production demand significant water, potentially straining local and regional water supplies.

Promotion of Biofuels in India

National Policy on Biofuels 2018

• Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas introduced the National Policy on Biofuels in 2018, replacing the 2009 policy by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Indicative targets: 20% ethanol blending in petrol and 5% biodiesel blending in diesel by 2030.
• Roadmap:
  • Increase domestic production of ethanol and biodiesel.
  • Establish second-generation (2G) biorefineries.
  • Develop new feedstock for biofuels.
  • Implement technological advancements for better biofuel production.
  • Facilitate blending of biofuels with conventional fuels.
• Categorization:
  • Basic Biofuels: First Generation (1G) bioethanol and biodiesel.
  • Advanced Biofuels: Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG, etc.
• Encouragement for:
  • Establishing supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, used cooking oil, and short gestation crops.
  • Using sugarcane juice, sugar-containing materials (e.g., sugar beets, sweet sorghum), starch-containing materials (e.g., corn, cassava), damaged food grains (e.g., wheat, broken rice, rotten potatoes) for ethanol production.
• Utilization:
  • Surplus food grains approved for ethanol production with National Biofuel Coordination Committee approval.
• Focus on Advanced Biofuels:
  • Rs. 5000 crore viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries over 6 years.
  • Additional tax breaks and higher purchase prices compared to 1G biofuels.

Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)

EBP Initiative

• Initiated in January 2003 to introduce 5% ethanol mixed gasoline.
• Aims to promote the use of alternative and environmentally beneficial fuels, reducing energy import dependency.

Ethanol Production

• OMCs (Oil Marketing Companies) directed to prioritize ethanol production from:
  • Sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup
  • B-heavy molasses
  • C-rich molasses
  • Contaminated cereals and other sources.

Expansion

• Effective April 1, 2019, initiative extended nationwide except for UTs (Union Territories) of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
• OMCs authorized to sell fuel blended with ethanol up to 10% in these UTs.

Biofuels Related National Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019

• Launched to promote R&D in the 2G ethanol sector and establish a commercial ecosystem.

GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN Scheme

• Focuses on managing and converting solid farm waste (like animal dung) into compost, biogas, and bio-CNG.
• Aims to maintain village cleanliness and increase rural income.

Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO)

• Initiated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Aims to create a system for collecting leftover cooking oil and transforming it into biodiesel.

Biofuels Related Global Initiatives

Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)

• An international initiative involving stakeholders such as farmers, businesses, governments, NGOs, and scientists to ensure sustainability in biofuel production and distribution.
• Introduced the “RSB Certification System” in April 2011, offering comprehensive sustainability standards. Biofuel producers adhering to these standards demonstrate environmental protection and human rights compliance.

Sustainable Biofuels Consensus

• A global initiative urging governments, commercial sectors, and stakeholders to swiftly ensure sustainable trading, production, and use of biofuels.

Bonsucro

• Founded in 2008 as a global, non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization supporting sustainable sugar cane production.
• Aims to mitigate environmental and social consequences of sugarcane production while ensuring economic viability.

Conclusion

The impact of biofuel on greenhouse gas emissions varies, with some scenarios showing emissions lower than fossil fuels and some even negative. To reduce reliance on petroleum, the International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates biofuels supplying over a quarter of global transportation fuel demand by 2050. However, current production and use of biofuels fall short of IEA’s sustainable development target. To achieve this goal, global biofuel output must increase by 10% from 2020 to 2030.

FAQs on Biofuel

Question: What are biofuels?

Answer: Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from organic materials, such as plants, crops, agricultural residues, and waste. These fuels can be used to replace or supplement traditional fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel.

Question: What is the importance of biofuels?

Answer: Biofuels play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and promoting energy security. They offer a sustainable alternative to conventional fuels, contribute to rural development, and support agricultural economies.

Question: What is National Policy on Biofuels 2018?

Answer: The National Policy on Biofuels 2018, introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in India, aims to promote research and development in the biofuels sector and establish a framework for commercial initiatives. It sets targets for blending ethanol in petrol and biodiesel in diesel, outlines strategies for increasing domestic production, and categorizes biofuels to enable appropriate financial and fiscal incentives.

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