The Way Ahead

India's quest to meet its soaring energy demands and reduce carbon emissions is steering the nation towards biofuels, with ethanol emerging as a pivotal player. With the government’s ambitious goal of achieving a 20 per cent ethanol blend by 2025, the spotlight is shifting to corn as the vital feedstock for ethanol production.

- BY DR. J P GUPTA

Diversifying ethanol feedstock sources is not just about meeting targets; it’s about strengthening energy security, promoting agricultural diversification, and reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Ethanol-blended fuel burns cleaner than gasoline and enhances the fuel’s octane rating. Ethanol also has a higher oxygen content than MTBE, requiring only half the volume to achieve the same oxygenation level in gasoline. India stands as one of the most compelling success stories of ethanol blending in the current era.

This momentum presents a transformative opportunity that must not be missed. By scaling up ethanol to E30 and eventually E100, India can take a decisive step toward achieving true energy security, food security, and decarbonization targets. India achieved its 10 per cent ethanol blending target by June 2022. The E20 program now aims to reach a 20 per cent ethanol blend by 2025-26. To meet this target, India will likely require 165 lakh tonnes of maize ~ 48 per cent of the current production of 346 lakh tonnes. This means maize production must increase to 420-430 lakh tonnes by 2024-25 and 640-650 lakh tonnes by 2029-30. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to boost corn production by 10 million tonnes over the next five years. Home Minister Amit Shahhas urged farmers to grow corn with a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) and announced tie-ups of the entire production with biorefineries.