India Emerged as the World’s Third-largest Biofuel Producer

4 Mar 2025

India has emerged as the world’s third-largest biofuel producer, marking significant progress in clean energy. 

  • The country has achieved 19.6% ethanol blending in petrol as of January 2024 and is set to reach 20% five years ahead of its 2030 target. 

This move is reducing fuel imports, cutting emissions, and supporting rural economic growth.

About Biofuel

  • Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from biological/ Organic sources such as plants, agricultural waste, and algae. 
    • They serve as alternatives to fossil fuels and play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy security.
  • These can be broadly categorized in three types: Liquid Biofuels (ethanol, biodiesels, bio-methanol etc.), Biogas (Bio-LNG, Bio-CNG) and Solid Biomass.

Generations of Biofuels

Generation Source Characteristics
1st Gen Food crops 
  • Made from food sources such as sugar, starch, vegetable oil
  • Ex: Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil
2nd Gen Non-food biomass 
  • Produced from non-food crops or portions of food crops that are not edible
    •  e.g., stems, husks, wood chips
  • Ex: cellulose ethanol
3rd Gen Algae-based biofuels
  • Focuses on biofuel generation from a microbial community. 
  • Example- Butanol
4th Gen Synthetic biofuels
  • In the production of these fuels, crops genetically engineered to take in high amounts of carbon are grown and harvested as biomass.
    • The crops are then converted into fuel using second generation techniques.
  • Ex: synthetic gasoline

Significance of Biofuels

  • Energy Security: Reduces dependency on fossil fuels and lowers fuel import costs(Ethanol blending programme has saved Rs. 85,000 crore in foreign exchange).
  • Environment Impact:: Biofuel Promotion helped in reducing CO2 emissions, by 519 lakh metric tons and reducing environmental impact (equivalent to planting 175 million trees).
  • Boosts rural economy, increasing farmers’ income through ethanol production and development of a market for agricultural residues/wastes.
    • Creates jobs in biofuel production and supply chains.
  • Enhances energy security and contributes to climate change mitigation
  • Circular Economy: Promoting circularity and 3R by employing waste for wealth creation and delivering wider socioeconomic benefits.

Government Initiatives to Promote Ethanol Production

  • National Policy on Biofuels (2018): 
    • Aims to increase the availability of biofuels.
    • Focuses on enhancing blending percentages with conventional fuels.
  • Ethanol Blending Program (EBP):
    • Targets achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030.
  • PM JI-VAN YOJANA: 
    • Provides financial support for developing second-generation ethanol projects.
    • Encourages the use of non-food biomass for ethanol production.
  • GOBARdhan Scheme (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan): 
    • It aims to convert biodegradable/ organic waste into valuable resources such as biogas, compressed biogas (CBG), and organic manure.
Additional Reading: Global Biofuels Alliance

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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