E20 is a viable fuel, can strengthen India's energy security: Dr Mashelkar
New Delhi, July 14
Backing India's ethanol-blended E20 fuel programme, eminent scientist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar on Tuesday said ethanol has already proved to be a viable transport fuel globally and can play a key role in strengthening the country's energy security.
Speaking to IANS, the former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) cited Brazil's decades-long experience with ethanol-powered vehicles as evidence of the fuel's viability.
"Brazil has been running vehicles on ethanol for 30-40 years. That experience tells us that ethanol is a viable fuel," said Dr Mashelkar, a chemical engineer and Fellow of the Royal Society.
He said expanding the use of ethanol and other indigenous fuels would help India reduce its dependence on imported crude oil while improving energy self-reliance.
Referring to the recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia, Dr Mashelkar said disruptions to global energy supplies underline the need for India to accelerate the adoption of domestically produced alternative fuels.
"We need self-reliance. We should produce our own fuels," he said, adding that dependence on imported energy leaves countries vulnerable to global conflicts and supply disruptions.
While expressing strong support for ethanol, Dr Mashelkar said India should simultaneously develop other clean fuel options, including methanol, dimethyl ether, compressed biogas and biomass-based green hydrogen.
"I am not just talking about ethanol. We have to look at all these alternative fuels," he told IANS.
He also emphasised that biomass should become a key feedstock for India's clean energy transition.
"The sun is shining, and biomass is produced from solar energy. Biomass should be our main feedstock from which we can produce fuels," he said.
Dr Mashelkar added that degraded and semi-degraded land could be used to cultivate energy crops such as Napier grass for producing compressed biogas and green hydrogen, without affecting land meant for food production.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Dr Mashelkar is absolutely right. Look at what happened during the Russia-Ukraine war - fuel prices skyrocketed. We need multiple alternatives, not just ethanol. Biogas from Napier grass sounds promising for rural areas. 👍
Good points but I have concerns. E20 requires engine modifications and some older cars might struggle. Also, diverting food crops for fuel could affect food prices during droughts. We need to carefully manage the transition. 🤔
As someone who lived in Brazil for work, I can confirm ethanol works brilliantly there. But India's climate and crop patterns are different. We should pilot this in states like Maharashtra and UP first before nationwide rollout.
Visionary thinking! Our farmers are already struggling with surplus sugarcane - this could be a win-win. Ethanol production can create rural jobs and reduce pollution from stubble burning. Government should provide subsidies for E20 flex-fuel vehicles. 💪🇮🇳
I'm all for energy independence but let's not forget the water required to grow energy crops. India's water table is already depleting. We need to balance food security, water conservation and energy needs. It's not simple.
Dr Mashelkar's suggestion to use
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.