4th February 2025 (12 Topics)
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Ethanol Blending & Impact
Context
India is on track to achieve its target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol ahead of schedule, with the goal set to be met in the next two months, a year earlier than expected. This ambitious target would require the production of nearly 1,100 crore litres of ethanol annually.
Key Highlights:
- Ethanol Production Sources: The 1,100 crore litres of ethanol required to meet the 20% blending target will come from a variety of feedstocks:
- Sugar and high-grade molasses: Expected to contribute around 400 crore litres.
- Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice: About 110 crore litres of ethanol is projected to come from FCI rice this year.
- Maize: This will account for around 350-400 crore litres of ethanol, a notable shift, as ethanol production from maize has grown significantly since 2020.
- Ethanol Distillery Capacity: India’s ethanol distillery capacity has grown to 1,600 crore litres, driven by government incentives and a stable, lucrative market for ethanol production.
Maize’s Role:
- Maize, traditionally used for food, animal feed, and starch, has gained importance in ethanol production.
- With the increase in demand for ethanol, maize is now cultivated more extensively for fuel.
- The government’s policy to allow ethanol production from maize has spurred its growth, and it has become a key feedstock alongside sugarcane.
- Initially, India was not producing much ethanol from maize, but now it is expected to produce 350-400 crore litres of ethanol from 9 million tonnes of maize.
- This shift is supported by farmers turning to maize cultivation, particularly in states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and others, as it offers better financial returns than traditional uses like poultry feed.
- Negative Impact:
- The shift towards ethanol production could impact food supply, as maize, which is usually used for livestock feed, is now increasingly diverted to ethanol production.
- If more land is used for maize cultivation, it could reduce the availability of land for other food crops.
What is Ethanol Blending?
Maize Cultivation
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PYQQ. Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol? (2010)
Solution: Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Solution: |
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