Editorial: The complex path to biofuel sustainability
CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2023
Editorial: The complex path to biofuel sustainability
As compared to the capital intensive transition to EVs, biofuels are emerging as an effective alternative to tackle the GHG emission issue.
However, 'biofuel is a blanket term that includes both sustainable and unsustainable fuels.
In India, biofuel is synonymous with first generation ethanol, which is primarily sourced from food crops. The policy target of achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol (E20) by 2025-26 is expected to met almost entirely by 1G ethanol made from sugar cane and food grains.
Second generation ethanol, which is made from crop wastes and residues, is unlikely to contribute much due to challenges in the feedstock supply chain.
There are arguments to why 1G ethanol is not a sustainable solution. First, stagnating crop yields hint at the fact that it would not be wise to depend on surplus production for our blending targets.
Second, with the increasing rates of groundwater depletion it is more important to prioritize food production over fuel.
Third, the agriculture sector is one of the hardest to abate in terms of GHG emissions. So increasing emissions from this sector to curb emissions from the transport sector would not be profitable endeavour.
Instead, 2G ethanol, produced from crop residues and other wastes, is 'sustainable' as it has low water and GHG footprint.
According to the International Energy Agency, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 globally, sustainable biofuel production needs to triple by 2030.
This can be achieved by using 2G ethanol, especially if the production is decentralised. But, balancing economies of scale with energy needs and costs of biomass collection and transport across large distances is a major challenge.
The Global Biofuels Alliance, formed at the G-20 Summit, could help drive innovation and technology development in establishing an efficient biomass supply chain and smaller-scale decentralised biofuel production units.
The alliance is expected to strengthen the development of sustainable biofuels, in addition to promoting ethanol uptake.