How sustainable is India’s E20 push?, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India aims for E20 (20% ethanol blended petrol) by 2025, with current production capacity at 18-20 billion litres from 500 distilleries.
• Oil companies have contracted to procure 10.5 billion litres of ethanol for the current ethanol year (November-October).
• Vehicles manufactured after April 2023, compliant with Bharat Stage 6 Phase 2 (Real Driving Emissions), are factory-engineered for E20.
• Approximately 77% of India's petrol fleet (240 million vehicles) are older models not designed for E20, raising concerns about potential damage and maintenance issues.
• The government claims the Ethanol Blending Programme has saved around ₹2 lakh crore in foreign exchange and substituted 32 million tonnes of crude oil imports.

E20 Mission.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) aims to reduce India's reliance on crude oil imports and channel money into the domestic economy.
• Feedstocks for ethanol production include maize (45%), FCI rice (22%), sugarcane juice (16%), and molasses (B-heavy 10%, C-heavy 1.1%).
• Diversion of sugarcane products to ethanol has not significantly impacted sugar availability, with closing stocks remaining stable at around 5 million tonnes.
• Concerns exist regarding the impact of E20 on older vehicles, as ethanol is a polar solvent and hygroscopic, potentially degrading rubber components and causing corrosion.
• While some studies suggest minimal damage and efficiency loss (under 5%), independent mechanics report real-world issues like fuel pump and injector failures in older vehicles.
• India's rapid E20 rollout contrasts with Brazil's phased transition over decades, which allowed for gradual vehicle modifications and public confidence building.
• The government states that despite a 70% rise in crude oil prices, petrol pump prices increased by only 7-8%, attributing this stability partly to the EBP.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• E20: A blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, designed to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions.
• Bharat Stage 6 Phase 2 (Real Driving Emissions): An emission standard for vehicles in India, mandating E20 compatibility for new vehicles from April 2023.
• Hygroscopic: A property of a substance to absorb moisture from the atmosphere, which in ethanol can lead to water separation and corrosion in fuel systems.
• Polar Solvent: A type of solvent that can dissolve polar compounds, and in the context of ethanol, can degrade non-polar materials like certain rubber and plastic components in older vehicles.