In just over a decade, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has had commendable benefits such as cutting down CO₂ emissions by 55.7 million tonnes, substituting 185 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, savings of INR 1,08,655 crores in foreign exchange, and ensuring timely payments of INR 92,409 crores to sugarcane farmers.
But how can we ensure the long-term sustainability of this
#ethanol boom, and how can it help achieve net
#ZeroEmissions by 2070?
Our latest
#policy brief dives into the critical trade-offs between maximising ethanol production and ensuring minimal environmental impact. Following are the key features of the recommended long-term sustainability pathway:
- Current trends in
#sugarcane cultivation can help grow and sustain the ethanol industry with an annual production capacity of 10–12 billion litres till 2050 and beyond.
- The EBP targets emissions from petrol vehicles—the segment that can be most easily transitioned to EVs. In the long term, as EVs dominate, ethanol can be redirected for decarbonising the hard-to-abate aviation sector through the alcohol-to-jet conversion process. Such a calibrated industrial growth strategy can ensure that farmers remain integral to the energy economy, avoiding the risk of stranded assets.
- Avoiding exclusive cropping for biofuels can ensure no direct or indirect conflict with food security.
As
#India progresses toward 20% ethanol blending by 2025–26, we must resort to measures to sustain its growth with the least environmental trade-offs and long-term mitigation benefits.
Read our policy brief to find out more:
cstep.in/publications-detail…
@PetroleumMin