National Policy on Biofuels 2018
National Policy on Biofuels 2018
In order to promote biofuels in the country, a National Policy on Biofuels was made by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the year 2009. Globally, biofuels have caught the attention in last decade and it is imperative to keep up with the pace of developments in the field of biofuels. Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the ongoing initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development and offers great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling of Farmers Income, Import Reduction, Employment Generation, Waste to Wealth Creation. Biofuels programme in India has been largely impacted due to the sustained and quantum non-availability of domestic feedstock for biofuel production which needs to be addressed.
Salient Features
- The
Policy categorises biofuels as "Basic Biofuels" viz. First
Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and "Advanced
Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to
enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each
category.
- The
Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by
allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar
Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava,
Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for
human consumption for ethanol production.
- Farmers
are at a risk of not getting appropriate price for their produce during the
surplus production phase. Taking this into account, the Policy allows use
of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol
with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
- With a
thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding
scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in
addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared
to 1G biofuels.
- The
Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel
production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation
crops.
- Roles and
responsibilities of all the concerned Ministries/Departments with respect
to biofuels has been captured in the Policy document to synergise efforts.
Expected Benefits
- Reduce Import Dependency: One crore lit of E10 saves
Rs.28 crore of forex at current rates. The ethanol supply year 2017-18 is
likely to see a supply of around 150 crore litres of ethanol which will
result in savings of over Rs.4000 crore of forex.
- Cleaner Environment: One crore lit of E-10 saves around 20,000 ton
of CO2 emissions. For the ethanol supply year 2017-18, there
will be lesser emissions of CO2 to the tune of 30 lakh ton. By
reducing crop burning & conversion of agricultural residues/wastes to
biofuels there will be further reduction in Green House Gas emissions.
- Health benefits: Prolonged reuse of Cooking Oil for preparing
food, particularly in deep-frying is a potential health hazard and can
lead to many diseases. Used Cooking Oil is a potential feedstock for
biodiesel and its use for making biodiesel will prevent diversion of used
cooking oil in the food industry.
- MSW Management:
It is estimated that, annually 62 MMT of Municipal Solid Waste gets
generated in India. There are technologies available which can convert
waste/plastic, MSW to drop in fuels. One ton of such waste has the
potential to provide around 20% of drop in fuels.
- Infrastructural Investment in Rural Areas: It is estimated that, one
100klpd bio refinery will require around Rs.800 crore capital investment.
At present Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve
2G bio refineries with an investment of around Rs.10,000 crore. Further
addition of 2G bio refineries across the Country will spur infrastructural
investment in the rural areas.
- Employment Generation: One 100klpd 2G bio refinery can contribute
1200 jobs in Plant Operations, Village Level Entrepreneurs and Supply
Chain Management.
- Additional Income to Farmers: By adopting 2G
technologies, agricultural residues/waste which otherwise are burnt by the
farmers can be converted to ethanol and can fetch a price for these waste
if a market is developed for the same. Also, farmers are at a risk of not
getting appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production
phase. Thus conversion of surplus grains and agricultural biomass can help
in price stabilization.
Comments
Post a Comment