08/24/2007
The Search for a Green Fuel
It is a win-win situation for consumers, oil companies and ethanol manufacturers — as well as the environment — in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra if the Centre’s recommendation, for use of more ethanol in petrol, is implemented.
Oil companies will have to import less petroleum and are expected to pass on the savings, however small, to
consumers. And the state’s ethanol producers say they have been waiting for the Centre to implement its recommendations so they can have a market for their excess produce.
But the greatest longterm beneficiary could be the environment. Ethanol is a much cleaner fuel than fuel and blends have been found to significantly reduce carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions.
The Centre is pushing for a mandatory blend of 5 per cent ethanol in petrol right away and 10 per cent by October 2008. India now imports nearly 70 per cent of the crude petroleum oil it needs and energy experts estimate 80 million litres can be saved if the recommendation becomes a rule.
“The mandatory use of 10 per cent ethanol will definitely mean some savings and there be a minor impact on prices as well,’’ a BPCL official said.
Besides the obvious impact on prices and the environment, officials say the increasing instability in West Asia makes ethanol an even more attractive option.
This is also good news for the 50-odd active sugar mills in the state; their byproduct, molasses, is used to produce ethanol. Maharashtra produces around 400 million litres of ethanol per annum but the total consumption is just 95 million litres. “This is good news for the state’s ailing sugar mills which are desperately looking at new markets,’’ an Ethanol Manufacturers’ Association office-bearer said.
A high-level delegation of various public-sector companies is already in Brazil to study the impact of increased ethanol use.
But oil companies say there is one factor that has them worried; it is the inconsistent supply of ethanol by manufacturers. The companies were left in the lurch as ethanol manufacturers suddenly disrupted supply without notice. The blending of ethanol and petrol is done at the Sewri and Wadala storage depots and then supplied to retail outlets across Mumbai and its suburbs. One of the major public-sector oil companies coordinates price and supply issues with ethanol manufacturers.
But enforcing the recommendation may not be so easy in the rest of the country. Using a 10-per cent blend of ethanol in petrol will require 1200 million litres of ethanol across the country. “There will be a shortage of around 400 million litres,’’ an official warned.
A GOOD DRINK FOR OUR CARS
Blending petrol with ethanol, which gives us all the alcoholic beverages, reduces vehicular pollution
THE RULES
For petrol, the Centre now recommends a blend that has 5% ethanol; this is for all states except Jammu and Kashmir, those in the northeast and the island territories.
The Centre wants the percentage of ethanol in petrol to be raised to 10% by October 2008.
BENEFITS OF BLENDING
Blending petrol with ethanol reduces vehicular pollution.
It lowers dependence on petroleum, a non-renewable and expensive source of energy.
Ethanol is cheap and easy to manufacture.
It can be made from a wide variety of raw materials that include sugarcane, sugarbeet, corn, soya milk, sorghum, barley, hemp, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sunflower, molasses, wheat and other grains, several fruits, straw and cotton. AROUND THE WORLD Several countries, like Brazil and the United States, already mass-produce cars that run on petrol-ethanol blends
BRAZIL
The recommended blend for cars is 76% gasoline and 24% ethanol. 30% of vehicular fuel produced in Brazil is ethanol. Cars running on 100% ethanol are being designed. Ethanol is produced from sugarcane.
The recommended blend for cars is 76% gasoline and 24% ethanol. 30% of vehicular fuel produced in Brazil is ethanol. Cars running on 100% ethanol are being designed. Ethanol is produced from sugarcane.
UNITED STATES
Most cars in the US now run on blends that use upto 10% ethanol. Many US cities have decreed that cars use gasoline that contains 10% ethanol; Portland, in Oregon, is the first city to push for this as a law.
Many automobile manufacturers are making cars that can run on blends using upto 85% ethanol.
Ethanol is produced mainly from corn.
Most cars in the US now run on blends that use upto 10% ethanol. Many US cities have decreed that cars use gasoline that contains 10% ethanol; Portland, in Oregon, is the first city to push for this as a law.
Many automobile manufacturers are making cars that can run on blends using upto 85% ethanol.
Ethanol is produced mainly from corn.
SWEDEN
Around 20% cars now use blends of alternative fuel that, in most cases, is ethanol.
Around 20% cars now use blends of alternative fuel that, in most cases, is ethanol.
PHILIPPINES
The government has decreed that all gasoline sold must contain at least 5% ethanol by February 2009 and, most probably, 10% by 2011.
Ethanol is made from a variety of sources like sugarcane, corn, cassava and sorghum.
The government has decreed that all gasoline sold must contain at least 5% ethanol by February 2009 and, most probably, 10% by 2011.
Ethanol is made from a variety of sources like sugarcane, corn, cassava and sorghum.
AUSTRALIA
Blends, using 90% unleaded petrol and 10% ethanol, are commonly available. Ethanol here is made from sugarcane and grains.
Blends, using 90% unleaded petrol and 10% ethanol, are commonly available. Ethanol here is made from sugarcane and grains.
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