Green credentials to biofuels

CII establishes biofuels green credentials

In what may provide a big boost to the fledgling biofuel economy in
the country, a study undertaken by industry body Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) has clearly established that biofuels in India
are indeed environment friendly and can help in reducing the country's
carbon footprint in a big way. The Indian transport sector accounts
for 7-8% of the country's greenhouse emissions. This figure is
projected to rise sharply in coming years as the transport sector is
growing fast. That makes a strong case for mandatory blending of
bio-fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel with petrol and diesel for use
in vehicles.

But the government has failed to come out with a clear policy in this
regard. One of the reasons: questions have been raised about green
credentials of bio-fuels and also about their effectiveness in
reducing carbon footprint."There are two main criticisms of biofuels:
first, whether they really add energy and second, whether they can
help in reducing carbon footprint," says Pramod Chaudhari, chairman,
CII national committee on bio-fuels who was closely involved with
preparation of the report.

Feedstocks like molasses, sweet sorghum, bagasse, rice straw and
jatropha were included in the study 'Estimation of Energy & Carbon
Balance of India.'The study has found that energy gain and carbon
reduction potential of biofuels produced from these feedstock's,
though varying in extent, are positive.For example, the net energy
ratio of bio-fuels - that is, the ratio of energy output obtained from
the end use of the biofuel and energy input used for the production of
biofuel -produced from molasses is 4.57% while their carbon emissions
are 75% less compared to fossil fuels.

The net energy ratio of biofuels produced from agri-residues like
bagasse and rice straw is between 3.32-4.39%. Biofuels produced from
jatropha also offer similar-sized energy gain. Meanwhile, carbon
reduction potential of biofuels produced from agri-residues is
estimated at 68-70%.Sweet sorghum comes on top of the list, with net
energy ratio and carbon reduction potential of bio-fuels derived from
it estimated at 7.06% and 86%. However, its production in the country
is limited.

The net energy balance - that is, the energy supplied by biofuels and
co-products at the end use minus the energy required during various
manufacturing stages of biofuels - for all these feedstocks is also
positive. Meanwhile, all of them were also found to have negative
carbon balance, which is defined as net quantity of greenhouse gases
emitted or avoided to the atmosphere during the various stages of
manufacture, distribution and end use of fuels. CII undertook the
study with support from the department of biotechnology. Financial
Express, New Delhi, April 15, 2010