Biofuels are integral to energy security

It is a moot question to what extent elected representatives, policy-makers and the people at large are aware of the looming catastrophic consequences of the running out of fossil fuels. On present showing, without factoring into the calculation the increase in consumption likely to be caused by fast pace of economic development and the exploding population, deposits of usable coal are estimated to last not more than 140 years, while reserves of oil and gas may get exhausted sooner. Then what?

The answer is clear and ominous: The very survival of humankind is bound up not with energy from fossil fuels, nor even from nuclear generation, but with renewable and non-conventional sources of energy. Unfortunately, though, they continue to be regarded in the snob scale of government officials and the intelligentsia as of secondary importance.

In fact, there were media reports of Dr Farooq Abdullah being dissatisfied about being sidelined when he was given the charge of the Ministry dealing with the research, development and utilisation of renewable and non-conventional sources of energy.

Actually, considering the enormous stakes involved, anything that gives a massive push to such sources should be taken as truly saving the human race from an irreversible disaster.

Even as regards renewable and non-conventional energy, the lion's share of attention has been going to producing energy from sources such as hydel, solar, wind, geothermal and tidal power, apart from fuel cells. There is as yet only minimal awareness of the untapped, and eventually unlimited, potential of biofuels in the form of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel that could be obtained from sugarcane, maize, wheat, sorghum, sugar beet, cassava and micro and macro algae (or oilgae!).

India is yet to launch a concerted and sustained drive for promotion of biofuels. The Central Government took the tiny step in 2006 of requiring a 5 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol, subject to commercial viability, in 20 States and seven Union Territories. But this touches only an infinitesimal fringe of the enormous possibilities available for effecting savings in import bills by substituting indigenous biofuels.

No doubt, a National Biofuel Policy has been in existence since September 2008, with a National Biofuel Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minister and a Biofuel Steering Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, mentioning an ‘indicative target' of 20 per cent by 2017 for the blending of bio-ethanol with petrol and bio-diesel with non-edible oils with diesel.

Action Programme

But very little is known of the functioning of these bodies and the results they have achieved in terms of nationwide dissemination of information, multi-disciplinary coordination and R&D efforts, with focus on processing and production technologies encompassing all the four generations of biofuels, instead of merely confining them to biodiesel and ethanol.

There is an imperative need to set up a National Biofuel Development Agency to draw up an action programme for the above purposes and with the specific goal of meeting 30 per cent of the demand for fuel by 2050 with the help of biofuel and raising the use of biofuel in transportation from the present 1.8 per cent to at least 10 per cent. It should ensure that there is an unrestricted movement of biofuels within and across the States. All this should go hand in hand with establishing pilot schemes and demonstration plots. The States should be asked to identify and earmark degraded and marginal lands for biofuel plantations.

The Agency should enter into partnerships with business and industry for exploring innovative research, including modifications in vehicular designs. It should also undertake extensive awareness campaigns through seminars, special supplements in print media and discussions in e-media. It may be a good idea to include the study of biofuels in the syllabi and curricula of educational institutions.

Simultaneously, a National Biofuel Fund should also be established for formulating and implementing a scheme of incentives including minimum support and purchase prices and provision for sanctioning venture capital to encourage participation by entrepreneurs who are eager to enter the field, but want protection from risks.

COMMENT NOW