Friday, 17 May, 2024
By: Yash Gupte
The step to launch ethanol powered cooking stoves has been taken with an aim of reducing the dependence on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) widely used for cooking. Image Source: IANS
Due to the coordinated efforts of the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the increase in diversion of sugar for ethanol production, the target of 10 percent blending under the programme had been achieved much ahead (August 2022) of the targeted deadline of November 2022
Developed by the state run Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, a cooking stove powered by ethanol fuel is expected to hit the Indian markets soon. The step has been taken with an aim of reducing the dependence on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) widely used for cooking. In order to make it possible for customers to purchase ethanol in canisters for the stove, HPCL also intends to introduce ethanol Automated Teller Machines (ATM). According to business executives familiar of the development, these ATMs may be placed at HPCL's retail locations.
One industry professional who is familiar with HPCL's goals said that it makes sense to utilise ethanol as a cooking fuel because there is a plentiful supply of it and India is boosting its aim for blending ethanol with petrol. By doing this, the nation may profit from a sustainable and affordable fuel source while lowering its LPG import expenses. However, according to reports, HPCL won’t be the first one to launch an ethanol based stove.
For the multi-billion dollar market for cooking fuel, KoKo Networks, an East African and Indian climate-tech business with venture capital backing, is already manufacturing and implementing ethanol fuel stoves, which would result in significant cost savings. The two-burner clean fuel ethanol cook stove and canister, which is KoKo's main product, are produced at a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility operated by Koko Networks in Sanand, Ahmedabad, according to the company's LinkedIn profile. In order to build up manufacturing to 2-2.5x capacity over the next two years, the company was employing up until last month in India. It has more than 1,200 workers spread out across East Africa and India.
A “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25” was released by the PM in June 2021 which laid out a detailed pathway for achieving 20 percent ethanol blending. Due to the coordinated efforts of the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the increase in diversion of sugar for ethanol production, the target of 10 percent blending under the programme had been achieved much ahead (August 2022) of the targeted deadline of November 2022 wherein the Public Sector OMCs have attained an average 10 percent ethanol blending in petrol across the country. The 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol was launched by PM Narendra Modi two months ahead of the planned rollout in April at the India Energy Week in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The ethanol production capacity in India has increased from 423 crore litres in 2019-20 to 947 crore litres in 2022-23. This means that the ethanol production capacity has doubled in just three years. The Central Government has taken various steps to increase production and utilization of ethanol. The Government has amended the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act to ensure free movement of ethanol in the country. The Government has also reduced Goods & Service Tax (GST) on ethanol meant for Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme from 18 percent to 5 percent since 2018.
Under the ethanol blending programme, an indicative target of 20 percent blending of ethanol in petrol by 2030 was laid out. Subsequently, the target year for achieving 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol was also advanced to 2025. By blending 20 percent ethanol, the nation could experience significant benefits, including energy security, reduced carbon emissions, improved air quality, self-reliance, the use of damaged food grains, an increase in farmer incomes, the creation of jobs, and more investment opportunities. Also, the central government is urging sugar mills to divert extra sugarcane to ethanol in order to find a long-term solution to the issue of excess sugar. About 45–50 LMT of extra sugar in the current sugar season (2022–2023) is intended to be converted to ethanol. According to Sudhanshu Pandey, secretary, department of food and public distribution, these activities are leading to transforming the Indian farming community from ‘Anna Daata’ to ‘Urja Daata.’
The chart below shows the top 5 states with total installed ethanol production capacity.
Maharashtra has the highest total installed capacity of ethanol production in the country followed by Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. At present, Maharashtra has around 127 plants with a production capacity of 268 crore litres of ethanol. National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSFL) Chairman Jayprakash Dandegavkar told PTI that the sugar industry in Maharashtra will also be called as the energy industry in times to come. In a major boost to Maharashtra’s ethanol production capacity, Swaraj Green Power and Fuel Limited had announced in January 2022 to set up the largest ethanol plant with a production capacity of 1100 Kilo Litres Per Day (KLPD) in Maharashtra in two stages. Once completed, this will be Asia’s largest ethanol production unit.
Uttar Pradesh with the second highest capacity of ethanol production has 75 distilleries. The state government is further establishing 17 new distillery units which are expected to be commissioned in the next two years, said Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy, additional chief secretary, excise and sugar industries and cane development department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
New innovations and the preference to ethanol over other fuels for different purposes tells that ethanol is the fuel of future with a lot of potential.
