Balancing Ethanol Production with Sustainability

• 19 Apr 2025

For Prelims: Ethanol, Ethanol blends, Photochemical smog, Methane, Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, Carbon credits 

For Mains: Ethanol Blending Program (EBP), Challenges of Ethanol Production and its Environmental Impact, Food Security vs. Biofuel Production 

Source:TH 

Why in News?  

Around 35 lakh tonnes of sugar is expected to be diverted towards ethanol production in 2024-25, up from 21.5 lakh tonnes  in 2023-24, reflecting India’s continued focus on biofuel adoption and energy diversification. 

What is Ethanol? 

• About: Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH), also known as ethyl alcohol, is a renewable biofuel primarily derived from agricultural feedstocks like sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, and other biomass.  
  • In India, molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, serves as a key raw material for ethanol manufacturing.  
  • Ethanol can also be produced through fermentation or petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration. 
• Properties: Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid that is fully soluble in water and most organic solvents.  
  • It has a higher octane number (a measure of fuel's ability to resist knocking) than petrol, which helps prevent engine knocking.  
  • In its pure form, ethanol is highly flammable with a melting point of -114°C and boiling point of 78.5°C. 
  • Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol to create a cleaner fuel alternative. 
• Common Blends: Common ethanol blends include E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), E15 (15% ethanol), E20 (20% ethanol), and E85 (up to 83% ethanol).  
  • E10 is the most widely used, while E85 is intended for flexible fuel vehicles. 
• Applications: Used in fuels (ethanol-blended), solvents, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, and as a dehydrating agent. 
• Health & Environmental Impact: Ethanol exposure can cause skin irritation, drowsiness, nausea, and, at high concentrations, result in coma or death. 
  • Ethanol can decompose rapidly in the environment, with carbon dioxide and water as end products. However, it can also contribute to the formation of photochemical smog. 
  • In soil or water, ethanol decomposes in the presence of oxygen, serving as a nutrient for microbes. Without oxygen, ethanol can lead to the formation of methane. 
• Ethanol Blending in India: The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) was launched in 2003 with 5% ethanol blending and has since been extended nationwide.  
  • Under the National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022), the target for ethanol blending has been advanced to 20% by 2025-26. 
    • Ethanol blending reached 12.06% in 2022-23, 14.60% in 2023-24, and 20% in 2024-25 (up to March 2025). India is set to have a target of 30% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030. 
  • By 2024, ethanol production capacity reached 1,600 crore litres. The EBP saved Rs. 1.06 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports. 
  • It also helped reduce CO₂ emissions by 544 lakh metric tons and substitute 181 lakh metric tons of crude oil.  

What are the Concerns Regarding Ethanol Production in India? 

• Food Security Concerns: India mainly uses sugarcane for ethanol. But to reach the blending targets, it will rely more on maize, rice, and broken rice. 
  • This shift may divert food crops from consumption, potentially threatening food security, as the high profitability of ethanol production could incentivize more land use for fuel rather than food. 
  • Increased ethanol demand has driven up maize and rice prices, with retail rice prices rising by 14.51% in 2023, impacting food affordability for vulnerable sections. 
• Land Use Concerns: Meeting the E20 target requires 7.1 million hectares of land for feedstock cultivation (roughly 3% of India's gross cropped area), adding pressure on resources like land, water, fertilizers, and pesticides.  
  • A study highlights the inefficiency of maize-derived ethanol, stating that 187 hectares of maize are needed to match the energy output of one hectare of solar energy, raising concerns about land use in a country facing food security challenges. 
• Depleting Water Resources: Ethanol production uses 8-12 liters of water per liter of ethanol, depleting groundwater and stressing water resources for agriculture. 
• Limited Emission Reductions: The EBP may offer only modest emissions reduction, not significantly contributing to India's Net Zero 2070 commitment. 
  • Ethanol plants, classified under the 'red category' of polluting industries, emit hazardous substances like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, leading to air, water, and soil pollution. 
• Technological and Infrastructure Gaps: India’s ethanol production largely depends on first-generation ethanol from sugarcane, which are less efficient compared to advanced technologies like cellulosic ethanol or biomass-based production used globally.  
  • This limits sustainability and reduces overall energy efficiency, hindering India’s clean energy goals. 
  • The underdeveloped fuel blending infrastructure, especially in rural areas, limits ethanol distribution, hindering scalability and impacting the long-term success of India's ethanol roadmap. 

How Can India Balance Ethanol Production with Sustainable Resource Management? 

• Promoting 3G Ethanol: Scaling up 3G ethanol production using microalgae (from wastewater, sewage or seawater) under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana offers a sustainable alternative to 1G (sugarcane molasses, juice, wheat, and rice) and 2G (agricultural residues like rice straw, wheat straw, bagasse, and corn stover) methods, reducing environmental impact without straining food or freshwater resources. 
• Strengthen Environmental Regulations: Implement Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to evaluate the full environmental impact of ethanol production, from feedstock cultivation to plant emissions, ensuring that sustainability goals are met without compromising the ecosystem. 
  • Promote carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies at ethanol production sites to offset emissions and further align with India's Net Zero 2070 objectives. 
  • India should integrate carbon credits into the ethanol supply chain, rewarding producers who use low-emission feedstocks in the production process. 
• Advanced Irrigation Systems: Drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting must be incentivized for all biofuel crops. Maharashtra's sugarcane farmers have seen a 40% reduction in water use by adopting drip irrigation, which can be extended to other states. 
• Mandating Zero-Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Technology: Ethanol plants must be mandated to adopt ZLD systems, which recycle water within the plant, reducing pressure on freshwater sources.  
  • The Balrampur Chini Mills in Uttar Pradesh already implemented this system, cutting water use by over 60%. 
• Complementing with Agroforestry: Encouraging agroforestry practices, where biofuel crops are integrated with forestry, can optimize land-use efficiency.  
  • Models like agroforestry with sweet sorghum could boost land productivity without taking up additional agricultural land. 
• Circular Economy in Ethanol Production: Under National Bio-Energy Programme, India can adopt circular economy models by repurposing ethanol byproducts for animal feed, fertilizers, or biogas, and reusing treated wastewater for irrigation and as coolant in heavy industrial infrastructure. 

Conclusion 

India’s ethanol blending drive is reshaping its energy landscape by reducing fossil fuel imports, curbing emissions, and strengthening rural economies. With a target of 30% by 2030, alongside a focus on sustainable resource management, the country is positioning itself as a global leader in biofuel adoption. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Discuss the challenges India faces in balancing its ethanol production goals with the need to protect food security.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)   

Prelims

Q. Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol? (2010)

(a) Jatropha   

(b) Maize   

(c) Pongamia   

(d) Sunflower   

Ans: (b)   

Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020)

1. Cassava   
2. Damaged wheat grains   
3. Groundnut seeds   
4. Horse gram   
5. Rotten potatoes   
6. Sugar beet   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:   

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only   

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only   

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only   

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6   

Ans: (a)