Ethanol blending policy of India : An Analysis 

Ethanol blending policy of India : An Analysis 

Ethanol blending policy of India – Today Current Affairs

Context : The government of India’s policy is to increase the percentage of ethyl alcohol in petrol. For which the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018. Now the fuel companies have to increase the percentage of ethanol in petrol to 20%, from 2030 to 2025.

Today Current Affairs

Introduction 

India is completely dependent on the export of raw petroleum . To reduce its dependency on the export of the raw petroleum, the Indian government has amended its fuel policy. Now the government is promoting the blending of biofuel into petrol . Government asked the fuel companies to blend 20% of ethanol blending in the petrol .The policy of introducing 20% ethanol is expected to take effect from April 1, 2023.

History of ethanol-blending : The Hindu Analysis

  • Ethanol is a hydrocarbon and after its burning , heat and energy can be generated. India has been working on the policy of using Ethanol or Ethyl alcohol for two decades . This ethanol can be used as the fuel in four wheelers and the two wheelers . However to run any vehicle we need more ethanol in comparison to petrol and simultaneously ethanol is harmful for the life of the engine . Engine would be damaged earlier if it is run by ethanol but we can produce the ethanol in India and we are completely dependent on the export of the petroleum and ethanol can be obtained through sugarcane, molasses, maize, which given India’s agricultural base
  • From 2001 , the Government has been testing  the feasibility of ethanol-blended petrol by supplying 5 % of the ethanol . In 2002 , India launched the ethanol mixed petrol in nine states of India and four Union Territories that was extended to twenty States and four UTs in 2006. However the percentage of blending never goes beyond 1.5 % .  The Hindu Analysis
  • The Government of India notified that E5 [blending 5% ethanol with 95% gasoline] petrol, the rubber and plastic components used in gasoline vehicles, is compatible with the E10 fuel [blending 10% ethanol with 90% gasoline].  India has been announcing since 202o that the target of the government is to blend 10 % ethanol in petrol by the end of the 2022 and the 20% by 2030 and 5 % with diesel by 2030 

Why Government is switching to E20 : The Hindu Analysis

In fact we have to import petroleum products on a large scale and nowadays our economy has been continuously slowing down . The exchange rate is continuously increasing . In this situation we have to reduce our petroleum export through blending ethanol . However it would be on the cost of the engine’s life  

 How does this affect engines? The Hindu Analysis

  • When we sue E20, there is an estimated loss of 6-7% fuel efficiency for four wheelers which are originally designed for E0 and calibrated for E10, 3-4% for two wheelers designed for E0 and calibrated for E10 and 1-2% for four wheelers designed for E10 and calibrated for E20. Car makers have said that with modifications in engines (hardware and tuning), the loss in efficiency due to blended fuel can be reduced. To compensate the consumers for a drop in efficiency from ethanol blended fuels, tax incentives on E10 and E20 fuel may be considered. The test vehicles worked well in several test-situations, the report noted.
  • Flex Fuel Engine technology (FFE) which runs in Brazil based on ethanol . We have to change our engine technology . If we compare the price of ethanol in India and the US, our price is higher than in the US. It means if we successfully change our technology it is difficult to say whether we would be benefited economically or not because we have to sacrifice with the loss of engine 

Today Current Affairs

Conclusion 

As per the above discussion , it is observed that we have to reduce our dependence on the export of the patrol through the blending of ethanol in the petrol and diesel but simultaneously it would reduce the efficiency of the life of the engine and another concern is that whether it relates nitrous oxide after burning of the ethanol or not . However India has shown that there is no reduction in nitrous oxides, one of the major environmental pollutants. . Indian should encourage the agriculture of the maize and the sugarcane for meeting its target of the blending of ethanol in petrol and diesel 

 

In this article we mention all information about Ethanol blending policy of India  Today Current Affairs.

 

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