Analysis of current scenario of Biofuels in India specifically Bio-diesel and Bio-ethanol

Abstract

Growth demands energy. India is the world’s fifth largest consumer of energy, and by 2030 it is expected to become the third largest, overtaking Japan and Russia. India has only 0.4 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves. It is also projected to run out of coal, its primary source of energy, in forty years. Its domestic natural gas reserves are limited as well. Fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in the energy scenario in our country in the next few decades. India’s energy security would remain vulnerable until alternative fuels to substitute/supplement petro-based fuels are developed based on indigenously produced renewable feedstocks. In biofuels, the country has a ray of hope in providing energy security. The Indian approach to biofuels, in particular, is somewhat different to the current international approaches and is discussed in this paper. It is based solely on non-food feedstocks to be raised on degraded or wastelands that are not suited to agriculture, thus avoiding a possible conflict of fuel vs. food security. An indicative target of 20% blending of biofuels, both for bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, by 2017 is proposed.