Context:
“The Role of E-fuels in Decarbonising Transport”, report released by International Energy Agency (IEA).
Highlights and Recommendations of the report:
- Report analyses emerging e-fuel technologies in terms of needed cost reductions, resources and infrastructure investments to achieve a 10% share of e-fuels in aviation and shipping by 2030.
- Strengthen transport GHG reduction targets to stimulate market for e-fuels
- Provide support to stimulate E-fuel demand by Integrating e-fuels into blending mandates.
- Address challenges and foster investment
E-fuels:
- All fuels in gas or liquid form that are produced from renewable or decarbonised electricity.
- Examples – e-methane, e-kerosene and e-methanol
- 4th generation biofuels
- Low-emission fuels because –
- Hydrogen is produced using low-emission electricity
- Carbon inputs are obtained in way that leads to low life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
- Carbon-neutral fuels –
- When e-fuels are burned in an engine, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but the emissions are balanced by the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the air to make the fuel, making it carbon-neutral.
- Possible Benefits –
- Reduced emissions
- Diversification of decarbonization options.
- Decreased demand for critical minerals needed for battery manufacturing.
- Steps taken by India to promote E-fuels –
- Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route for renewable energy projects.
Source: Economic Times
Previous Year Question
With reference to green hydrogen, Consider the following statements:
1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.
3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (c)
