Indian Chemical News (ICN), an online news media covering the Chemicals, Petrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals sector is organizing an E-conference on World Biofuel Day on August 10, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM.

The topic of the E-conference is "Promotion of Biofuels for a Better Environment". Please register for the event by clicking on the link.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2016260722579/WN_fyGv8WJwTmyyVyQrWWNiVg 

The confirmed speakers for the E-conference are: Adnan Ahmad, VC & MD, Clariant India; Samir Somaiya, CMD, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd.; Milind S. Patke, Former Executive Director - Biofuels, BPCL; Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, Praj Industries Ltd.; Prof. Goncalo Pereira, Full Professor and Coordinator, Genomics and Bioenergy Laboratory, UNICAMP; and Pravin Prashant, Editor, Indian Chemical News. 

The key discussion points for the E-conference are: Challenges in achieving 20% ethanol blending in fuel by 2025; Investment required to meet this target; Why Biofuels will provide for a better environment; Comparison of E100 with E20 in Brazil; Development in automobile sector with respect to E100; How will ethanol blending affect farmers; Single window service for setting up Ethanol distilleries; Role of research institutions; Development in Flex Fuel Engine Technology; and Consumer awareness campaigns for promoting ethanol.

World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and to highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the Biofuel sector. The Government of India has mandated 20% ethanol blending in fuel by 2025 against a current blending of 8.5% from only 1.5% till 2014. In 2013-14, about 38 crore liters of ethanol were purchased in the country which has now grown to more than 320 crore liters benefiting sugarcane farmers.

Most of the ethanol manufacturing units are mostly concentrated in 4-5 states where sugar production is high but the government has now given a go ahead to set up distilleries for producing Ist Generation (1G) ethanol. The Ist Generation (1G) ethanol will be produced from feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn and sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc. or converting molasses based distilleries to dual feedstock vide notification dated 14th January, 2021.

Considering this, many companies are seeing a huge untapped demand for ethanol for the ethanol blending program of the Government of India which can be of great benefit to sugar companies.

In June 2021, the Prime Minister also launched the ambitious E100 pilot project in Pune for the production and distribution of ethanol across the country. E100 has been used in conjunction with E20 in Brazil as flexible fuel for cars. E100 will encourage carmakers to adapt their vehicles to take this fuel by developing flex engines and make India self-reliant, combat climate change, strengthen and help grow the industry and also ensure stable livelihoods to the farmer.

The use of ethanol as a fuel will bring a total investment of about Rs. 40,000 crore in India. The scheme would not only facilitate diversion of excess sugar to ethanol but would also encourage farmers to diversify their crops to cultivate particularly maize/corn which needs less water compared to sugarcane and rice. This would enhance production of ethanol from various feedstocks thereby, facilitate in achieving blending targets of ethanol with petrol and would reduce import dependency on crude oil thereby realizing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The E-conference will also focus on how Brazil is benefiting from ethanol deployment using Flex engine and how this model can be replicated in India.