Fuel From The Fields: A Balance-Sheet
What are biofuels?
Made from renewable sources, biofuels promise a viable, eco-friendly substitute to fossil fuels. Can be made from a variety of crops like maize, sugarcane, beetroot, palm oil, jatropha-anything that is rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Typically, blended with petrol or diesel.
Why are they controversial?
Countries like the US are diverting their corn and maize crops to produce biofuels, thus contributing to the tight foodgrain position and spiralling global prices.
What are the types of biofuel?
Ethanol: Made by converting the carbohydrate portion of biomass into sugar, which is then converted into ethanol in a fermentation process similar to brewing beer. Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel today. It is blended with petrol for transport purposes. India is looking at cellulosic biomass as a substitute to sugarcane molasses for making ethanol.
Biodiesel: Blended with diesel, biodiesel can be made from jatropha, soybean or canola oils, animal fats, waste vegetable oils, or micro-algae oils. At a nascent stage in India.
Biomethane: Agro or forest waste is processed to produce biomethane, a gas that can be used for industrial purposes and transportation. Experimental stage in India. In some countries like Sweden, biogas is being used as transport fuel.
What's The Status In India?
Ethanol
Made From: Sugarcane molasses, is blended with petrol
Status: Oil firms are supplying 5% blend in 17 states. By October 2008, oil companies have to supply 10% blend, but unlikely as auto makers have expressed reservations about adaptability of older vehicles. Also, alternatives to sugarcane are being explored for ethanol.
Biodiesel
Made from: Non-edible oilseed varieties of plants like jatropha and karanjia
Status: Not yet at a commercial scale, plantations will take time to gather momentum till research helps identify high-yielding varieties.
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