Global Biofuel Alliance and Roadmap for Ethanol Blending Program in India: Analysis and Perspective

Abstract

Last year on, September 9, 2023, India launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) along with other 8 countries during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The core purpose of the alliance is to promote the biofuels at global front mitigating the whooping carbon emissions in turn tackle the climate changes. India remarkably achieved 10 percent ethanol blending in June 2022 and is expecting to the availability of E20 blend to 2025. The country is already blending 20 percent ethanol which is available at more than 1600 retail outlets across the country. Now, after launching the GBA, India may take leap forward in pushing ethanol not only as biofuel but also as an ideal solvent in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and allied sectors. The judicious utilization of both first- and second-generation feedstocks (1G and 2G) into ethanol production can cater its growing demand. In the present scenario, mixed ethanol (1.5G ethanol) could be a suitable choice harnessing 1G and 2G feedstock without compromising the food and feed requirements. This manuscript critically appraises the Indian ethanol program, production statistics of ethanol, availability of 1G and 2G feedstock, technology profile and commercialization status of ethanol in India. Considering the potential of ethanol business and government support, many potential private companies are embarking on ethanol as a potential blending in gasoline. Indigenous production of ethanol and its blend in gasoline would empower the Indian economics while saving the foreign exchange reserves as country imports more than 70% gasoline requirements.