Context:
G20 host India proposes Global Biofuels Alliance to support the world to enable energy transitions in tune with the benefits of a circular economy.
Global Biofuels Alliance:
- Aim – To facilitate cooperation and intensify the use of sustainable biofuels, including in the transportation sector.
- Purpose – Sets technical standards for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Collaboration of agencies such as Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives, and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).
SAF (bio-jet fuel) is created using domestically developed methods using cooking oil and oil-rich seeds from plants. It has a significantly lower carbon footprint and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
About Biofuels:
Meaning – The hydrocarbon fuel derived from the biomass of plants or animal wastes in a short period.
3 types – Solid (Wood, dried plant material, and manure); Liquid (Bioethanol and Biodiesel); Gaseous: Biogas.
| Bio fuels | Source | Method | Carbon Content | Demerits | Examples |
| 1st Generation | Food sources: Sugar, starch, vegetable oil, animal fats, sugar beet, sugarcane, wheat, corn | Conventional / Traditional | High | Imbalance in the food economy leading to increased food prices | Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas |
| 2nd Generation | Non-food crops: Stems, husks, wood chips, and fruit skins and peeling | Thermochemical or biochemical conversion | Less than 1G biofuel | Production is complicated | Cellulose ethanol, biodiesel |
| 3rd Generation | Algal Biomass: Microalgae, macro-algae etc. | Algae can be grown using land and water | Carbon Neutral i.e. CO2 emitted = CO2 sequestrated | Fertilizers leads to environmental pollution | Butanol |
| 4th Generation | Genetically engineered crops: Cyanobacteria | 2nd generation techniques | Carbon Negative | —– | Biohydrogen, biomethane etc. |
Major types of Biofuels:
- Bioethanol:
- Derived from corn and sugarcane using a fermentation process.
- 2/3 of the energy in 1 litre of gasoline = 1 litre of ethanol.
- Biodiesel:
- Derived from vegetable oils like soybean oil or palm oil, vegetable waste oils and animal fats
- Biochemical process – Transesterification
- Biogas:
- Produced by the anaerobic breakdown of organic materials.
- Methane and carbon dioxide make up the majority of biogas.
- Biobutanol:
- Produced through the fermentation of starch.
- Butanol has the highest energy content of all the gasoline substitutes.
- Uses – Solvents textile industry, base in perfumes etc.
- Biohydrogen:
- Produced using pyrolysis, gasification, or biological fermentation.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Answer: (d)
