ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL (EBP) PROGRAMME ( UPSC Prelims)

EN ह

News Context

The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas declared that India has successfully reached its goal of 20% ethanol blending in petrol, in accordance with the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

About Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme

Genesis: Initiated in 2003 to encourage the blending of ethanol with petrol.
 About Ethanol Blending:
      ○ Involves the process of combining ethanol with petrol to create a more sustainable and cleaner-burning fuel.
  ● Types: E10 (10% Ethanol by Volume), E20 (20% Ethanol), E85 fuel (85% ethanol by volume).  
        ○ Utilizing E-20 results in improved acceleration, enhanced ride quality, and a reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 30% compared to E10 fuel.
 Target: The National Policy on Biofuels (2018), revised in 2022, has moved the goal of achieving a 20% ethanol blending in petrol to 2025-26, earlier than the initial target of 2030.
 Status of Ethanol Blending:
      ○ There has been a 13-fold increase in ethanol blending in petrol, rising from 1.5% in 2014 to 20% by 2025.
  ● Ethanol production has grown from 38 crore litres in 2014 to over 660 crore litres by 2025.  
 National Policy on Biofuels:
      ○ Encourages the use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar Beet, Cassava, Damaged food grains, and Rotten Potatoes unfit for human consumption for production.
      ○ Advocates for the use of Surplus food grains for ethanol production and blending with petrol.

About Ethanol (C2H5OH)

 ● Renewable fuel, specifically anhydrous ethyl alcohol, is derived from sugarcane, maize, wheat, and other crops with high starch content.  
      ○ It is naturally created through the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or through petrochemical methods such as ethylene hydration.
      ○ This fuel boasts a high-octane rating but is 27% less energy dense compared to petrol.
      ○ It is used both as a petrol additive and as a standalone fuel (such as E85 and E100) in flex-fuel cars.
      ○ Beyond fuel, it is utilized in sanitisers, perfumes, beverages, and as industrial solvents.
      ○ A by-product, distillers’ dried grains (DDGS), from grain ethanol production, is repurposed as animal feed.
  ● Status: India ranks as the world's third-largest producer and consumer of ethanol, following the USA and Brazil.  
        ○ The leading ethanol-producing states in India are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

About Biofuels and its Generations

Liquid or gaseous fuels derived from biomass (renewable resources) are utilized as alternatives to or in combination with diesel, petrol, or other fossil fuels. Examples include ethanol and Compressed BioGas (CBG).
 1. 1st Generation: Derived from edible feedstocks such as wheat, corn, and sugarcane, as well as food-grade rapeseed, soy, or palm oil.
 2. 2nd Generation: Sourced from lignocellulosic biomass and waste, including wheat bran, animal fats, and waste from cooking and frying oil, as well as Jatropha curcas.
 3. 3rd Generation: Obtained from microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass.
 4. 4th Generation: Involves genetically engineered microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Initiatives facilitating Ethanol Blending

• PM JIVAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal Awashesh Nivaran) Yojana: Initiatives for Second Generation (2G) ethanol projects.
 • Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes (EISS): Creation of Dedicated Ethanol Plants (DEPs).
 • Decrease in GST on ethanol intended for the EBP Programme from 18% to 5%.
 • Modification to the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.
 • The government permits the production of ethanol from sugarcane juice and molasses during the ESY 2025-2026.