Recently, the Union road and highway Minister announced that India will achieve 20% ethanol blending with petrol within the next two months (early 2025).

• The achievement requires the production of nearly 1,100 crore litres of fuel ethanol annually.

What is Ethanol?

• Ethanol is a renewable fuel derived from plant-based materials, collectively known as biomass.
• It is primarily produced through:
  • Fermentation of sugars by yeast.
  • Petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.
• Ethanol is widely used, with over 98% of U.S. gasoline containing some amount of ethanol.
• Common Ethanol Blends
  • E10: Consists of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.
  • E85: A higher ethanol blend, used in flex-fuel vehicles.

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Uses of Ethanol

• Medical Applications: Used as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
• Industrial Uses:
  • Serves as a chemical solvent.
  • Plays a role in the synthesis of organic compounds.
• Fuel Alternative: Used as a biofuel, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Sources of Ethanol Production

• Primary Feedstocks
  • Ethanol production will come from:
    • Sugar & high-grade molasses
    • FCI rice
    • Broken rice
    • Maize
  • India’s ethanol distillery capacity has increased to 1,600 crore litres, supported by government incentives and market stability.
• Sugar-Based Ethanol Contribution
  • 400 crore litres of ethanol is expected from sugar in 2024-25.
  • Non-fuel ethanol will be derived from C Heavy molasses, a low-grade byproduct of sugar processing.
• Rice-Based Ethanol Contribution
  • The government reduced FCI rice prices for distilleries from ₹28/kg to ₹22.5/kg.
  • 110 crore litres of ethanol will be produced from FCI rice in 2024-25.
• Maize-Based Ethanol Contribution
  • 400 crore litres of fuel ethanol is expected from maize.
  • Dual-feed distilleries have been set up to use both sugar and maize for ethanol production.

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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 2025-26.
• PM JI-VAN YOJANA
  • Provides financial support for developing second-generation ethanol projects.
  • Encourages the use of non-food biomass for ethanol production.

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