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Context:

• Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) has adopted a work plan focused on assessing country landscapes, drafting policy frameworks, and conducting biofuel workshops, at a key meeting of the body held on the sidelines of the G20 deliberations in Brazil.

Work Plan contains the following:

• It aims to assess country landscapes, draft policy frameworks, and conduct workshops to expedite biofuel adoption worldwide.
• Immediate goals include setting standards for biofuel, expanding formal biofuel markets, and mapping demand and supply.

Initiatives taken by India to promote biofuels:

• National Policy on Biofuels (2018):
  • The National Policy on Biofuels aims to achieve blending targets of 20% ethanol in petrol and 5% biodiesel in diesel by 2030.
  • Recently amendment was made where Instead of 2030, the Centre plans to move ahead with its ethanol blending target of 20% of petrol containing ethanol by 2025-26
  • It categorizes biofuels into first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), and third-generation (3G) biofuels, emphasizing the promotion of advanced biofuels.
  • The policy promotes the use of surplus food grains, agricultural residues, and non-edible oilseeds for biofuel production to minimize competition with food crops.
• Ethanol Blending Program (EBP):
  • India has set a target of achieving 10% ethanol blending with petrol (E10) by 2022 and subsequently increasing it to 20% (E20) by 2030.
  • As of 2022, ethanol blending in petrol stands at around 8.5%.
  • The government has announced various measures to increase ethanol production, including incentivizing ethanol production from surplus food grains and sugarcane juice.
• Biodiesel Purchase Policy:
  • India aims to achieve 5% blending of biodiesel with diesel by 2030.
  • The government provides fiscal incentives and support prices under this to encourage the production of biodiesel from non-edible oilseeds such as Jatropha, pongamia, and used cooking oil.
• National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC):
  • NBCC was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister, of Petroleum & Natural Gas (P&NG) to provide overall coordination, effective end-to-end implementation, and monitoring of the biofuel program. NBCC has members from 14 other ministries.
  • It plays a crucial role in monitoring the progress of biofuel projects, addressing bottlenecks, and formulating policies to promote biofuel development.
• Research and Development Initiatives:
  • India has several research institutions and centers dedicated to bioenergy research and development, including the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Indian Oil Corporation's R&D center, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  • Research focuses on improving biofuel production processes, developing efficient conversion technologies, and exploring novel feedstocks.
• Biofuel Projects and Investments:
  • India has witnessed significant investments in biofuel projects, including ethanol and biodiesel plants.
  • Public and private sector investments have been made in setting up ethanol distilleries, biodiesel refineries, and biomass-based power generation units.
• Promotion of Alternative Feedstocks:
  • India is exploring alternative feedstocks such as lignocellulosic biomass, algae, and industrial waste for biofuel production.
  • The government provides support for research and development projects aimed at commercializing advanced biofuels from non-food biomass sources.

Details about biofuels:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/biofuels-27

Conclusion:

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects significant growth in biofuel usage by 2050 due to Net-Zero targets. Despite being the third-largest producer of ethanol globally, India's contribution to global procurement remains relatively low.

Source:

https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/global-biofuel-alliance-sets-up-three-pronged-work-plan-says-govt-124050500378_1.html

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