E20 fuel and future of green energy

Published
8th Feb, 2023

Context

The Prime Minister is going to launch 20% ethanol gasoline named ‘E20’, unveiling a solar and conventional energy-powered cooking system to celebrate the India Energy Week in Bengaluru.

India energy week:

E20 or flex-fuel vehicles are an excellent way to reduce pollution without breaking the bank.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister will launch the Green Mobility Rally to raise public awareness of green fuels and showcase vehicles powered by green energy.

About E20 fuel:

The number "20" in "E20" refers to the percentage of ethanol in the gasoline blend.
Simply put, the higher the number, the higher the percentage of Ethanol in the gasoline.
India's current ethanol-to-petroleum mix is 10%, the highest it has ever been.
Because it is made from biomass, ethanol does not require crude oil.
Ethanol is primarily produced from crops such as corn and sugarcane.
India already produces significant quantities of grain and sugarcane. It may allow automobiles to use a higher proportion of Ethanol.

What is ethanol blending?

Naturally Produced- Ethanol is a biofuel, naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or by petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.
Derived from agricultural products- In ethanol blending, a blended motor fuel containing ethyl alcohol derived from agricultural products is blended with petrol specifically.
High in oxygen content- Ethanol is high in oxygen content, allowing an engine to more thoroughly combust fuel.

Advantages of E20 fuel:

Biofuel is gaining popularity because it has the potential to significantly reduce pollution if used on a large enough scale.
Imports meet approximately 85% of India's fuel needs. In India, using petrol with a 20% ethanol blend would result in significant cost savings for the country.
New jobs will be created in the original equipment manufacturing (OEM), component supplier, and aftermarket service provider sectors.
The Indian government believes achieving its 20% ethanol in gasoline target will benefit the country's agricultural industry. The government claims that these measures will increase farmer income.

Present utilisation of E20 Fuels in India:

India's Creta, Venue, and Alcazar SUVs from Hyundai Motor are said to be capable of running on E20 gasoline as of the 2023 MY model year.
Tata Motors debuted two new turbocharged petrol engines at the Auto Expo 2023. (1.2-litre and 1.5-litre).

Tata has stated that its vehicles longer than 4 metres will soon be equipped with E20 fuel-compatible engines.

By April 2023, similar developments are planned for vehicles manufactured by Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Kia, and others.

Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) programme:

EBP programme was launched by the government in 2003 to promote the use of alternative and environmental friendly fuels.
This intervention also aimed to reduce import dependency for energy requirements, and give boost to the agriculture sector (supply of straw, additional income to farmers).
Oil marketing companies (OMCs) were mandated to sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol up to 10 per cent. The government allowed procurement of ethanol produced from non-food feed stocks, like cellulosic and ligno-cellulosic materials, including petrochemical route.
Ligno-cellulosic materials: It describes the main constituents in most plants, namely cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Lignocellulose is a complex matrix, comprising many different polysaccharides, phenolic polymers and proteins. Cellulose, the major component of cell walls of land plants, is a glucan polysaccharide containing large reservoirs of energy that provide real potential for conversion into biofuels. It is the non-starch based fibrous part of plant material