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World Biofuel Day 2023
World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and to highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector. This day also honours Sir Rudolf Diesel’s scientific endeavours, which included running an engine with peanut oil in 1893. Vegetable oil will displace fossil fuels as the primary source of energy for various mechanical engines in the coming century, according to the results of his research trial. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has been observing World Biofuel Day since 2015.
World Biofuel Day
Biofuels are liquid fuels and components used in fuel blends that are made from feedstocks. Several sources, including feedstock and genetically modified crops, can be used to make these biofuels. The governments increased emphasis on lowering import dependency and ensuring the nation’s energy security has given the use of biofuels more legitimacy. Utilising biofuels helps us meet the Paris Climate Agreement’s objectives and address the global warming challenge. On August 10 each year, people around the world observe World Biofuel Day in honour of Sir Rudolf Diesel, who created the diesel engine.
What is Biofuel?
Biofuels are environmentally friendly fuels, and using them would allay concerns about keeping carbon emissions in check. Because they are made from renewable bio-mass resources, biofuels have a strategic advantage over conventional energy sources in promoting sustainable development and supplementing them to meet the rapidly rising demand for transport fuels brought on by strong economic growth as well as the energy needs of India’s enormous rural population.
The advantages of biofuels include a cleaner environment, less reliance on imported crude oil, more money for farmers, and the creation of jobs in rural regions. The government of India’s programmes for Make in India, Swachh Bharat, and increasing farmers’ income all work in harmony with the biofuels strategy.
Important Biofuel categories in India
Bioethanol
Ethanol produced from biomass, which includes starch- and sugar-containing materials like corn, cassava, rotten potatoes, algae, and sugar- and sugar-containing materials like sugarcane, sugar beetroot, sweet sorghum, etc. as well as cellulosic materials like bagasse, wood waste, agricultural and forestry residues, or other renewable resources like industrial waste;
Biodiesel
A methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acids created from bio-oil, acid oil, used cooking oil, used animal fat, and non-edible vegetable oils;
Advanced biofuels
Fuels made from lignocellulosic feedstocks (i.e. agricultural and forestry residues, such as rice and wheat straw, corn cobs and stover, bagasse, and woody biomass), non-food crops (such as grasses, algae), or industrial waste and residue streams that have low CO2 emission or high GHG reduction and don’t compete with food crops for land use are referred to as “green” fuels. Fuels like Second Generation (2G) Ethanol, Drop-in Fuels, Algae-Based 3G Biofuels, Bio-CNG, Bio-Methanol, Di Methyl Ether (DME) Derived from Bio-Methanol, Bio-hydrogen, and Drop-in Fuels with MSW as the Source / Feedstock Material will Qualify as “Advanced Biofuels”.
Drop-in fuels
Any liquid fuel produced from Biomass, agri-residues, wastes such as Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW), Plastic wastes, Industrial wastes etc. This meets the Indian standards for MS, HSD and Jet fuel, in pure or blended form, for its subsequent utilisation in vehicles without any modifications in the engine systems and can utilise existing petroleum distribution system.
Bio-CNG
Produced from agricultural waste, animal dung, food waste, MSW, and sewage water, purified bio-Gas has a composition and energy potential similar to that of fossil-based natural gas.
Biofuel use in India
Reduced reliance on imports, a cleaner environment, more income for farmers, and the creation of jobs are all advantages of biofuels.
The frequent use of the same cooking oil for frying in India has a negative impact on health because it causes the production of polar compounds while frying. These polar molecules have been linked to a number of ailments, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and liver disorders. UCO is either not disposed of at all or is disposed of in a way that endangers the environment and clogs sewers and drains.
The Government of India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which was published in 2018, envisions the manufacture of biofuel using UCO. A strategy is being put in place by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to remove UCO from the food value chain and stop its current illicit use. Since UCO would not be recycled, there would be health benefits as well as employment creation, infrastructure investment in rural regions, and a cleaner environment with a lower carbon impact.
At the moment, India consumes about 850 crore litres of high-speed diesel (HSD) every month. By 2030, biodiesel will be blended into HSD at a rate of 5%, according to the National Policy on Biofuels for 2018. 500 crore litres of biodiesel must be produced each year to meet the blending goal. About 22.7 MMTPA (2700 crore litres) of cooking oil are used in India, out of which 1.2 MMTPA (140 crore) of used cooking oil (UCO) can be collected from bulk consumers like hotels, restaurants, canteens, etc. for conversion, yielding 110 crore litres of biodiesel annually. For UCO, there is currently no established collecting chain. Consequently, there is a tremendous opportunity for biodiesel production using UCO.
Biofuels & Government Initiatives
In India, a number of programmes and initiatives have been implemented to promote the use of biofuels. For instance, the National Policy on Biofuels, which was approved by the government in June 2001, set a target of 5% biodiesel and 20% ethanol blends by 2030. Additionally, this strategy encourages the creation of advanced biofuels.
Other initiatives are as follows:
- Creation of a cellulolytic enzyme created locally for the production of biofuels
- Strengthening of international cooperation through initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission
- The Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana will provide a commercial ecosystem for initiatives that will advance research and development in the ethanol sector.
- The 2018 GOBAR DHAN programme (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources): focuses on managing and converting farm wastes, including as animal manure and crop waste, into usable compost and bio-CNG, achieving the dual goals of maintaining villages’ cleanliness and raising rural household income.
- Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO):The initiative, which was started by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), intends to create an ecosystem that will make it possible to collect spent cooking oil and turn it into biodiesel.
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