Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme

Context:

• The government has set targets of 10 per cent bioethanol blending of petrol by 2022 and to raise it to 20 per cent by 2030 under the ethanol blending programme to curb carbon emissions and reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil.

What is Ethanol Blending?

• Ethanol blending is the practice of blending petrol with ethanol. Ethanol itself burns cleaner and burns more completely than petrol it is blended into.
• Since ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, ethanol is also considered as renewable fuel.
• In India, ethanol is mainly derived by sugarcane molasses, which is a by-product in the conversion of sugar cane juice to sugar.

Objectives of Ethanol Blending:

• To reduce vehicle exhaust emissions (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC)).
• To reduce the import burden on account of crude petroleum from which petrol is produced.

What is Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme?

• The Government launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in 2003 to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels.
• Under this, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol up to 10% in as many states as possible.
• The Government has also allowed procurement of ethanol produced from other non-food feedstock, like cellulosic and ligno cellulosic materials including petrochemical route.

Issues:

• Ethanol has smaller energy density than gasoline. This means that it takes more fuel by volume and mass to produce the same amount of work.
• Non-availability of ethanol in required quantity.
• Ethanol production in India is heavily dependent on the production of sugar and sugarcane, which fluctuates due to the cyclic nature of the crop.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding “Ethanol Blending Program”:
1.Ethanol has smaller energy density than gasoline.
2.It will help reduce the import burden on account of crude petroleum  on India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question