production from non-food crops and materials like lignocellulosic waste material,
molasses, non-edible oils, etc. (Aradhey 2010). The policy provided broad
guidelines on financial support and incentives to promote biofuel production in
India (Aradhey 2018). The National Biodiesel Policy emphasizes the need for
energy security, energy access and efficiency, and the pivotal role played by the
energy sector in the socio-economic development of India (Aradhey 2018). The
recent National Policy on Biofuels 2018 focusses in addition to the objectives set in
the previous biofuel policy, on raw materials for biofuel production, farmers’
welfare, and pathway to upscale biofuel production. In effect, the National Policy
on Biofuels 2018 aims to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels, to switch over
to clean renewable energy, and to mitigate climate change through reduction of GHG
emissions. The policy targets to generate 10 GW of power from biofuels by 2022. As
regards the transport fuel blending, the policy aims to achieve by 2030, 20% ethanol
blending (with gasoline) and 5% biodiesel blending (with diesel). The benefits from
the implementation of Biofuel policy include reduction in import dependency, clean
atmospheric environment and health benefits, municipal waste management, agricultural crop residue management, increase in farmers’ income and employment
opportunities. The salient features of the National Policy on Biofuels (Prasad et al.
2020):
• “The policy increases the scope of raw material for ethanol production by
allowing the use of sugarcane juice; sugar-containing feedstocks like sugar beet
and sweet sorghum; starch-containing feedstocks like corn and cassava; damaged
food grains like wheat, rice and rotten potatoes unfit for human consumption for
ethanol production.
• The new biofuel policy allows the use of surplus food grains for ethanol production for blending with petrol/gasoline with the approval of the National Biofuel
Coordination Committee.
• With a thrust on advanced biofuels, the policy indicates a viability gap funding
scheme for 2G ethanol biorefineries of Rs. 5000 crores in 6 years in addition to
additional tax incentives, a higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
• The policy supports setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel making
from non-edible oilseeds, waste cooking oil and short gestation crops”.
12.5 Potential GHG Emissions Reductions by Renewable
Resources
Renewable energy sources are primary energy resources that are inexhaustible,
clean, and low-risk category (Amponsah et al. 2014). “Renewable energy (RE) has
the potential to play an important and increasing role in achieving ambitious climate
mitigation targets” (IPCC 2012). Not like the fossil fuel combustion which releases
greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide), the renewable energy resources like solar,
hydroelectric energy, and wind release no greenhouse gases. However, biomass
energy on combustion produces carbon dioxide emissions. But they are considered
280
S. Prasad et al.
molasses, non-edible oils, etc. (Aradhey 2010). The policy provided broad
guidelines on financial support and incentives to promote biofuel production in
India (Aradhey 2018). The National Biodiesel Policy emphasizes the need for
energy security, energy access and efficiency, and the pivotal role played by the
energy sector in the socio-economic development of India (Aradhey 2018). The
recent National Policy on Biofuels 2018 focusses in addition to the objectives set in
the previous biofuel policy, on raw materials for biofuel production, farmers’
welfare, and pathway to upscale biofuel production. In effect, the National Policy
on Biofuels 2018 aims to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels, to switch over
to clean renewable energy, and to mitigate climate change through reduction of GHG
emissions. The policy targets to generate 10 GW of power from biofuels by 2022. As
regards the transport fuel blending, the policy aims to achieve by 2030, 20% ethanol
blending (with gasoline) and 5% biodiesel blending (with diesel). The benefits from
the implementation of Biofuel policy include reduction in import dependency, clean
atmospheric environment and health benefits, municipal waste management, agricultural crop residue management, increase in farmers’ income and employment
opportunities. The salient features of the National Policy on Biofuels (Prasad et al.
2020):
• “The policy increases the scope of raw material for ethanol production by
allowing the use of sugarcane juice; sugar-containing feedstocks like sugar beet
and sweet sorghum; starch-containing feedstocks like corn and cassava; damaged
food grains like wheat, rice and rotten potatoes unfit for human consumption for
ethanol production.
• The new biofuel policy allows the use of surplus food grains for ethanol production for blending with petrol/gasoline with the approval of the National Biofuel
Coordination Committee.
• With a thrust on advanced biofuels, the policy indicates a viability gap funding
scheme for 2G ethanol biorefineries of Rs. 5000 crores in 6 years in addition to
additional tax incentives, a higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
• The policy supports setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel making
from non-edible oilseeds, waste cooking oil and short gestation crops”.
12.5 Potential GHG Emissions Reductions by Renewable
Resources
Renewable energy sources are primary energy resources that are inexhaustible,
clean, and low-risk category (Amponsah et al. 2014). “Renewable energy (RE) has
the potential to play an important and increasing role in achieving ambitious climate
mitigation targets” (IPCC 2012). Not like the fossil fuel combustion which releases
greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide), the renewable energy resources like solar,
hydroelectric energy, and wind release no greenhouse gases. However, biomass
energy on combustion produces carbon dioxide emissions. But they are considered
280
S. Prasad et al.