World Biofuel Day 2024: Significance, Initiatives

World Biofuel Day is observed on August 10 every year to create awareness about the significance of biofuels in promoting sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions. The day highlights the importance of using renewable energy sources derived from biomass and organic materials. Biofuels play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, as they are considered a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. This day encourages nations to invest in research and development, policy frameworks, and incentives to further promote the adoption of biofuels, contributing to a greener and more environmentally friendly future.

Name of the day	World Biofuel Day
Observed on	August 10
Reason	To educate people about the significance of non-fossil fuels.

History of World Biofuel Day

• It is believed that World Biofuel Day was first observed in 2015. Since then, our world has been holding celebrations every year in its honour.
• This day of global importance is observed in the memory of Sur Rudolf Diesel.
• This mechanical engineer invented the diesel engine in 1892.
• Furthermore, on 9th August 1983, Rudolf operated a peanut oil machine. With this experiment, he visualised the potential of vegetable oil in operating machinery.
• His peanut oil-based mechanical engine began the revolutionary concept of replacing fossil fuels with vegetable oils.

Also Read: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Significance of World Biofuel Day

• It encourages people around the world to replace renewable energy sources with non-renewable fossil fuels.
• It aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the dependency on fossil fuels.
• The day educates public at large about the benefits of adopting renewable energy sources.
• It also urges individuals, governments, and organizations to make sustainable energy consumption choices.
• World Biofuel Day also aims to restore our planet earth’s health by reducing pollution.

Also Read: World Environment Day: Theme, History, Importance

Initiatives by the Indian Government on Biofuel Promotion

The Government of India has implemented several measures to increase the use of biofuels, resulting in positive outcomes.

• India’s ethanol capacity has grown from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 7.93% in 2020-21, with ethanol supply rising from 38 crore litres to 322 crore litres during the same period.
• The ethanol blending percentage is expected to reach 8.50% in 2020-21 compared to a mere 1.53% in 2013-14.
• The ethanol distillation capacity has doubled, and the number of distilleries has increased by 40% in five years. 
• Furthermore, the National Policy on Biofuels-2018 aims to achieve 20% ethanol-blending and 5% biodiesel-blending by 2030 to align with the vision of World Biofuel Day.
• Moreover, the policy was amended in May 2022 to allow more feedstocks, advance the ethanol blending target to 2025-26, promote biofuel production in Special Economic Zones (SEZs)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs), and allow specific cases of biofuel exports.
• Bio-diesel blending started as a pilot project in 2001.

Also Read: International Day of Biological Diversity

Other Initiatives to Promote Biofuel in India

In addition to the aforementioned initiatives, the central government has undertaken several initiatives to encourage the use of biofuel in India. Here are some important steps taken by the government to promote biofuels:

• On June 5, 2021, on the occasion of International Environment Day, it was declared that the goal of achieving 20% ethanol-blended petrol has been brought forward by five years and is now set to be achieved by 2025.
• In November 2021, the Government raised the prices of ethanol derived from carbon-heavy molasses to Rs 46.66/litre, from B-heavy molasses to Rs 59.08/litre, and set the price for sugarcane juice-based ethanol at Rs. 63.45/litre. These new rates will be applicable during the ethanol supply year from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022. Additionally, the Government decreased the GST on ethanol meant for blending in fuel from 18% to 5%.

Also Read: World Earth Day

Categories of Biofuel in India

As we celebrate World Biofuel Day, we must be aware of the different categories of biofuel in India. According to the Union Government of India, there are 5 important categories of Biofuel in the country. Let us now know a few facts about the same.

1. Biodiesel

This alternative to conventional energy sources is an ethyl or methyl ester of fatty acids. This derivative of fatty acids is obtained from non-edible vegetable oils, bio-oil, acid oil, and used cooking oil. In addition, biodiesel is also derived from animal fat. 

2. Bioethanol

This biofuel is extracted from biomass like starchy materials, sugar products, cellulosic materials, and industrial waste. Some of the common sugar-rich materials include sweet sorghum, sugarcane, and sugar beet. In addition, bioethanol is produced from cellulosic materials like forest and agriculture residues, wood waste, and bagasse.

3. Bio-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Bio-CNG refers to purified biogas which is derived from sewage water, agricultural residues, food waste, animal dung, and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The energy potential and composition of this biofuel are at par with fossil fuel-derived natural gas. 

4. Drop-in Fuels

Any liquid fuel created from biomass, agricultural waste, MSW, plastic waste, industrial waste, etc. that satisfies Indian standards for jet fuel, HSD, and MS, in blended or pure form, for use in automobiles without requiring engine system modifications and that can use the current petroleum distribution system.

5. Advanced Biofuels

Fuels derived from non-food crops like algae and grasses, residue streams, and industrial waste are termed advanced biofuels. In addition, fuels extracted from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as wood biomass, corn cob, rice straw, wheat straw, and bagasse are also considered advanced biofuels. 

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