Cellulosic Ethanol and First Generation Bio-fuels: A Potential Solution for Energy Security of India

Abstract

Diminishing world petroleum reserves and the impact of environmental pollution of increasing exhaust emissions have led to search for suitable alternative fuels. Scorching prices of petroleum based fuel (before global economic recession) and reduced biofuel cost due to advanced technological breakthrough, made biofuel competitive with conventional petro-fuel. India is fifth in the world in terms of primary energy consumption, accounting for 3.5% of world commercial energy demand. Rapid economic expansion will continue to drive up India's energy needs. India is projected to be the third in the world by 2025 in net oil import. It is a huge task to manage the energy security for meeting the aspirations of growing economy in India. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of energy requirements in transport sector and the future projections. Paper further analyzes the role and the advantages of distributed energy based on Bio-fuels which may ensure India's energy security. Around 1% of the world's arable land, i.e., 14 million ha are used in 2005 for biofuel production. In 2030 the share is expected to rise to 2.5% and 3.8% for reference and alternative policy scenario, respectively. These projections are expected to evoke the famous ‘food-Vs-fuel’ debate more critically for developing countries like India with huge population load. Therefore it is the need of the time for integrated approach combining conventional bio-fuel with the next generation bio-fuel to provide a sustainable energy-food-environmental security for a country like India. Paper discusses in detail how and to what extent the conventional bio-fuel, and the second generation bio-fuel, lignocellulosic ethanol can help to arrive a balance between food and fuel requirements of growing Indian economy. The scientific analysis presented here, may serve as interesting basis for future energy policy formulation in this area.