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| Curse of ethnol blending | | | Sourab Lachotra
India’s introduction of E20 fuel is part of the government’s broader roll out of ethanol blending. Ethanol blending is a component of the government’s transformation of the country’s energy policy. It offers new economic opportunities for the country but also new environmental problems.
Ethanol blending is beneficial to the rural economy and strengthens India’s government finances. By mixing 20% ethanol with petrol, India reduces its dependence on importing crude oil and saves billions in foreign currency. Ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel and therefore helps to reduce the pollution that petrol creates. Reducing emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons helps improve the pollution in the air in Indian cities.
Ethanol blending creates several new challenges that also have to be addressed.
Increasing food and water scarcity is the primary concern. Ethanol production from sugarcane and other first-generation feedstocks requires a lot of water. India is depleting its groundwater and ethonal production will exacerbate the strain on an already dwindling resource.
Ethanol blending also reduces the energy density of petrol. This results in a 5% to 7% reduction in the distance that vehicles can travel on a tank of fuel. Ethanol blending also increases the long term maintenance costs for vehicles. Older vehicles that have not been designed to run on Etahnol will experience a hidden maintenance costs from the degradation of vehicle fuel lines. |
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