World Environment Day 2021: Will Green Fuel Boost India’s Go Green Mission?

India is one step forward towards a greener India by boosting its Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme. While addressing the country at the event of World Environment Day 2021, today Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked oil companies to double the percentage of ethanol in petrol.

Now, the new ethanol blending target is 20% by the year 2025. The government is all set with a new roadmap to meet this goal but it is not something beneficial only for the country and environment. However, the challenges it poses are the real concern.

आज से 7-8 साल पहले देश में इथेनॉल की कभी उतनी चर्चा नहीं होती थी। लेकिन अब इथेनॉल 21वीं सदी के भारत की बड़ी प्राथमिकताओं से जुड़ गया है।

इथेनॉल पर फोकस से पर्यावरण के साथ ही इसका बेहतर प्रभाव किसानों के जीवन पर भी पड़ रहा है। #IndiasGreenFuturepic.twitter.com/qsOTq7ggyp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2021

Here are few things about ethanol-blended petrol everyone should know.

Understand The Green Fuel (Ethanol) From The Scratch

3 Uses Of Ethanol

• As a solvent
• production of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages
• Use in gasohol production

However, it is majorly used as an engine fuel due to its ability to produce less carbon emission and ozone polluting substances. Thus, many countries like U.S and Brazil are also relying on this biofuel. Brazil is the major producer of ethanol in the world and uses 95 percent of ethanol in gasoline.

On the other hand countries like the US have kept the limit of 10 percent. Some countries also use 85 percent gasoline mixtures to fuel vehicles.

7 Things To Know About Ethanol-Blended Petrol Programme

6. Ethanol is easily available but the prices can become a major factor in deciding the petrol prices. Seeing which government has cut the GST rate to 5% on ethanol under this program.

7. Although sugarcane is the prime source of ethanol, GOI has permitted the use of maize and rice for the same. This would boost farmer’s income whilst India’s ethanol production.

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3 Major Challenges For India In Green Fuel Production

1. Flex-Fuel Engines

2. Fuel Vs Food

Another concern is the high water attraction capabilities of ethanol that will give rise to engine problems.

But on the other hand, this green fuel will emerge extremely beneficial for consumers as it will cut the petrol prices to a larger extent.