Biofuel blending is the process of mixing conventional fossil fuels, such as petrol or diesel, with biofuels like ethanol or biodiesel. This helps reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuels and supports energy diversification.
Biofuel blending is crucial for enhancing energy security, reducing crude oil imports, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting the use of renewable energy. It also supports rural income by creating demand for agricultural residues and feedstocks.
In India, ethanol (blended with petrol) and biodiesel (blended with diesel) are the most commonly used biofuels. India primarily uses 1G (first-generation) ethanol produced from sugarcane and food grains.
Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel typically produced from sugarcane, corn, broken rice, or other starch-rich crops through fermentation. It is renewable and can be blended with petrol to reduce emissions.
Petrol is blended with ethanol (e.g., E10, E20).
Diesel is blended with biodiesel (e.g., B5, B20).
1G biofuels: Derived from food crops like sugarcane and corn.
2G biofuels: Produced from non-food biomass like agricultural waste, crop residues, or forestry residues.
3G biofuels: Generated from algae and other advanced sources, still under development.
These refer to the percentage of biofuel in the blend:
E10: 10% ethanol + 90% petrol
E20: 20% ethanol + 80% petrol
B20: 20% biodiesel + 80% diesel
Ethanol-blended fuel generally improves combustion efficiency and reduces tailpipe emissions. However, high-level blends may require engine adjustments or flex-fuel technology.
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on a mixture of petrol and ethanol (up to 85% ethanol in some cases). They provide flexibility in fuel choice and are instrumental in promoting high ethanol blends.
The EBP is a government-led initiative to promote the blending of ethanol with petrol. It aims to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, cut emissions, and support the domestic biofuel industry.