Achieving 20% Ethanol Blending by 2025-26
Progress
Ethanol blending with petrol has increased to 13-15% as of recent years, up from about 8% in 2021.
India’s ethanol production capacity has risen to 1,380 crore liters (875 crore litres capacity from sugarcane and 505 crore from foodgrains), almost reaching the target of 1,000 crore liters needed for 20% blending.
Significant investments have been made, with ₹40,000 crore spent by the sugar industry to expand production capacity
Challenges
The focus on ethanol production from food grains and sugarcane raises concerns about food security.
Increased maize imports and restrictions on sugarcane use reflect this tension.
Current efforts rely heavily on first-generation (1G) ethanol from food crops.
There is a need to shift towards second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) ethanol, which use non-food biomass and have less impact on food supplies
Expanding sugarcane cultivation for ethanol is water-intensive, which could divert resources from essential food crops and impact agricultural sustainability.
Different states have varying approaches and incentives for ethanol production.
Some states prioritize fuel ethanol, while others focus on Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) for liquor, impacting the uniformity of the national program.
Vehicles not designed for high ethanol content may experience reduced fuel efficiency and require modifications
What is Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA)?
ENA is a highly pure form of ethanol, usually with a purity of 99.5% or higher.
ENA is used in the liquor industry for making consumable alcohol
It is also employed in various industrial processes, including fashion and medicine.
The pricing of ENA can influence the choice of distilleries between producing fuel ethanol and ENA, affecting overall ethanol supply for blending with petrol
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