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Home / IAS Preparation / World Biofuel Day

World Biofuel Day 2024: History, Importance & More | UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Sep 23, 2024
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Topics for UPSC Prelims

Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, National Policy on Biofuels, International Biofuel Alliance

Topics for UPSC Mains

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, Ethanol Blending Program, Biofuels Digest Report, Role in Energy Security

World Biofuel Day is celebrated annually on August 10 in memory of Sir Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine. The goal is to raise awareness about the significance of non-fossil fuels as a substitute for traditional fossil fuels and to spotlight the government's various initiatives in the biofuel sector. The term ‘biofuels’ refers to liquid fuels and blending materials obtained from feedstocks. These biofuels can be produced from various sources, including feedstock, genetically modified crops, etc. The usage of biofuels has gained legitimacy with the government's increased focus on reducing import dependency and achieving the country's energy security. The use of biofuels has multiple benefits, like achieving the goal of the Paris Climate deal and coping with the climate crisis.

This is an important topic for the UPSC IAS Exam. In this article, we shall discuss World Biofuel Day. We shall have an insight into World Fuel Day. We will also have an insight into the Categories of Biofuel, Reasons why Biofuel Day is celebrated, and India’s Biofuel journey, among others.

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About World Biofuel Day

World Biofuel Day is celebrated on an annual basis on the 10th of August. The celebration of the Day started in 2015 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas. The major objective behind celebrating World Biofuel Day is to raise awareness about the use of non-fossil fuels and their value in acting as an alternative to fossil fuels. Further, it also aims at highlighting the initiatives of the government taken in this light.

Also, read about World Environment Day on the given link!

Why is World Biofuel Day Celebrated?

World Biofuel day is celebrated on August 10th every year to commemorate the work of Sir Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of diesel engines. He has been credited with the discovery of the use of vegetable oil in general, and peanut oil in particular, in place of fossil fuels for the functioning of mechanical engines. This was achieved first on August 9, 1983.

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World Biofuel Day 2024

World Biofuel Day 2024 was observed on 10th August 2024. This day intends to spread awareness about the importance of biofuels as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The theme of the day was "Sustainable Biofuels: Reducing Waste, Feeding Energy."

The event focused on the potential that biofuels might bring in terms of a reduction in carbon emissions, securing energy resources, and establishing sustainability. Most countries and organizations launched initiatives to assist in the development of the biofuel industry, such as investments in research and development, promotion of the use of biofuels in transportation, and implementation of support policies.

What is Biofuel?

The term “biofuel” is typically only used to refer to a liquid or gaseous fuel used in transportation. Any hydrocarbon fuel that is created in a short amount of time—days, weeks, or even months—from an organic material (living or once living material) is referred to as a biofuel. Instead of coming from a gradual geological process, biofuels are typically made from biomass using modern methods. These biofuels serve as substitutes for fossil fuels, the traditional forms of fuel. Plants can be used to make biofuel, as well as domestic, commercial, or agricultural biowaste.

Categories of Biofuel

The categories of biofuel are listed below:

Fig: Categories of Biofuel

First Generation Biofuels

First-generation biofuels are created by extracting the oils from food crops for biodiesel or by making bioethanol using traditional techniques like fermentation. The use of food sources to prepare biofuel has an adverse impact on the economy and food security of the nation. Where 119 million citizens in India sleep with empty stomachs, the use of food crops for biofuel preparation is debatable.

Examples of first-generation biofuels are- Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable Oil, Bioethers, and Biogas.

Second Generation Biofuels

These are produced with the help of non-food crops or by-products of food crops that are generally regarded as wastes like fruit peels, husks, stems, and wood chips since they are not fit to be consumed. Such fuels are made using biochemical or thermochemical conversion processes. Additionally, second-generation biofuels aim to be more affordable when compared to fossil fuel usage. Compared to first-generation biofuels, they emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Examples of second-generation biofuels are- Biodiesel and cellulose ethanol.

Third Generation Biofuels

Third generation biofuels are extracted from microorganisms like algae. For their production, algae are cultured on land or water surfaces. Thus, it can relieve stress on the depleted water sources of the country. One major advantage of these generation biofuels is that they can be converted into various fuels, including diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. However, one concern with their use is that it may lead to environmental pollution due to their use of fertilizers.

Fourth Generation Biofuels

One special feature of fourth-generation biofuels is the use of genetically engineered Genetically Modified algae or biomass crops to produce biofuels. The use of biomass crops can help in carbon capture and act as a potential tool in controlling the climate crisis. This method uses techniques like oxy-fuel combustion to capture carbon dioxide at every stage of production. Thus, this generation of biofuels is effectively carbon negative, i.e., it captures and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduces carbon dioxide emission by replacing fossil fuels.

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List of Biofuel Categories in India

Some of the major categories of biofuels used in India include the following:

  • Bioethanol: Ethanol is derived from biomass sources such as sugarcane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, corn, cassava, algae, and cellulosic materials like bagasse and wood waste.
  • Biodiesel: It is made from non-edible vegetable oils, acid oil, used cooking oil, or animal fat.
  • Advanced biofuels: These fuels are produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks, non-food crops, or industrial waste with low CO2 emissions and minimal competition with food crops. Examples include 2G ethanol, drop-in fuels, algae-based 3G biofuels, bio-CNG, bio-methanol, bio-hydrogen, and DME derived from bio-methanol.
  • Drop-in fuels: Liquid fuels produced from biomass, agricultural residues, municipal solid wastes, plastic wastes, and industrial wastes that meet Indian standards for use in vehicles without engine modifications.
  • Bio-CNG: A purified form of bio-gas with similar composition and energy potential to fossil-based natural gas, produced from agricultural residues, animal dung, food waste, municipal solid waste, and sewage water.

Also, study National Forest Policy 1988 with this link!

Applications of Biofuel

The application of biofuels are as follows:

  • Provide Heat: Both heating and power generation can be accomplished using biofuels. The use of bioheat has become more widespread in recent years.
  • Reduce harmful emissions: Biofuel can be used as a medium to decrease nitrogen and sulphur dioxide emissions. This can further help the country achieve its INDCs and realize the dream of the Paris Agreement.
  • Used for cleaning Oil Spills: Biofuel can assist in cleaning up oil spills.
  • To clean metal: Biofuel can be used in the industrial sector as a solvent to clean metal.
  • Nation-wide economic empowerment: Widespread use of biofuels can help in tiding over imports of crude oil and thus save foreign reserves of the country. It can also insulate the country from economic shocks, as seen during the rise in crude oil prices during the Russian-Ukraine war.
  • Transportation: Vehicles and their emissions are a significant source of environmental pollution. Around 24% of the energy and 60% of the oil that is absorbed globally are used for transportation activities. Here, biofuel can do wonders by its conversion into a stream of hydrogen for use in a fuel cell.
  • Lubricants: Biofuel raises the cetane number of the fuel and thus improves the lubricity of the fuel.

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India and its Biofuel Journey

India’s biofuel journey can be traced back to 2003 with the creation of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Further, in 2014, the Government developed the Administered Price Mechanism. The National Biofuel Policy was rolled out in 2018 in line with the Ethanol Blended Programme and the Interest Subvention Program's introduction for enhancing ethanol production capacity. 

The National Biofuel Coordination Committee in 2020 recommended releasing the surplus rice lying with the Food Corporation of India to distillers for ethanol production. The Interest Subvention Programme was extended to grain and feedstock-based distilleries in 2021 for enhancement in the production of ethanol.

Also, Read Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016

Government Initiatives to Promote the Use of Biofuels

The government of India has taken innumerable steps to increase the share of biofuels. Some initiatives are mentioned below.

  • The government rolled out the National Policy on Biofuels in June 2018. Under the policy, the government aims to increase the share of ethanol to 20% and biodiesel to 5% by 2030.
  • Recently, on International Environment Day, the government, to increase the share of biofuels, has reduced the target year to 2025, i.e., 20% share of ethanol blending in petrol to be achieved by 2025-26. This is to be rolled out from April 2023.
  • The GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN scheme was launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) in 2018 to boost the conversion of solid waste into compost, biogas, and bio-CNG thereby raising the income of rural households and keeping the rural household clean.
  • Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (2019) programme was launched to foster an environment for developing business ventures and to advance Research and development in the 2G ethanol.
  • Amendment in the provision of the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951- It mandated enabling the use of the lignocellulosic route for ethanol procurement.
  • The Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) programme was started by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to enable the creation of an ecosystem of collecting used cooking oil and converting it into biodiesel.
  • The government has also allowed using surplus food grains and biomass to produce bioethanol. This would provide a boost to the production of ethanol in the country.
  • A Pilot Project of E100 dispensing stations has been launched at Pune.
  • The government has further raised the rates of GST on ethanol blending from 18% to 5%.

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Way Forward

To enhance the share of biofuels in India’s energy mix, the steps required are

  • The Government should come up with an Ethanol Inventory to ensure consistent availability.
  • For wider acceptability, the government should take proactive steps in reducing the prices of biofuels compared to fuels of daily usage like petrol and diesel.
  • There is also a need to explore the feasibility of using other grains apart from sugar to meet the set target of the National Policy on Biofuels by 2025.
  • Incentives should be provided for early adoption of vehicles compliant with these fuels, as done across the globe.
  • Further, there should be an upgrade of technology for producing biofuels from non-feed stock to insulate the country from any food insecurity.
  • To prevent unintended consequences, comprehensive land use guidelines that prioritize biofuel production on marginal and degraded lands and protect areas for agriculture, forestry, settlements/infrastructure, and nature conservation are required on a regional, national, and international scale.

Check out this article on the National Action Plan on Climate change for UPSC Exam here!

Conclusion

Biofuels can act as a potential fuel in tiding over the climate crisis in the world. Apart from being financially efficient, they are environment friendly and help in realizing the government’s ambitious goal of doubling farmers’ income. Increasing the share of their usage will be a win-win situation for everyone. Considering its advantages, the government has actively been promoting its widespread use. It thus syncs well with the Atma Nirbhar government's Initiative and the Make In India and Swachh Bharat Initiative.

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Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • World Biofuel Day: Observed on 10th August every year, it seeks to make people more aware of the extensive use of non fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and brings into focus the role of biofuels in combating global warming.
  • Historical Background: The day also marks the first public running of a diesel engine fuelled by peanut oil by Sir Rudolf Diesel back in 1893, which introduced biofuels as an alternative energy source.
  • Environmental Benefits: Biofuels are cleaner and greener compared to fossil fuels because the burning of biofuels produces fewer greenhouse gases, which contributes in diminishing air pollution and changing the climate.
  • Government Policies: Just like every other country in the world, India brought forth policies and schemes that were aimed at the creation and implementation of biofuels. They normally include subsidies, tax exemptions, and incentives for farmers and industries producing biofuels.
  • Energy Security: Biofuels are generally significant in sustainable development because they provide a renewable source of energy to offset oil import dependence, thereby improving energy security, and further aids rural development and helps create jobs.
  • Economic Impact: Biofuel production accelerates the rural economy by adding more market bases for agricultural products. More and supplementary streams of income will be earned from the cultivation of biofuel crops. Additionally, problems connected with agricultural waste disposal are eradicated.
  • Technological Advancements: Biofuels have been continuously under scientific research and innovation in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Some of the advancements in this area include second-generation and third-generation biofuels, which were found to utilize non-food biomass and algae, respectively.
  • Public Awareness Education: The events and campaigns undertaken on World Biofuel Day form an education system that makes the general public aware of the benefits and usage of biofuels, increasing their support for renewable energy solutions.

We hope all your doubts regarding World Biofuel Day are addressed after going through this article. Testbook provides comprehensive notes for different competitive examinations. It has always assured the quality of its product like content pages, live tests, Gk and current affairs, mocks and so on.Ace your UPSC preparation with the Testbook App!

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World Biofuel Day FAQs

Biomethanation is a process under which organic material is converted to biogas by the use of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions.

World Biofuel Day is organized on 10th August every year.

The major categories of Biofuel identified in India are First generation fuels, second-generation fuels, third-generation fuels, and fourth-generation fuels.

Unlike fossil fuels like petroleum, coal, and natural gas, biofuel is viewed as a source of renewable energy and can help in the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere.

E100 is pure ethanol fuel.
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