How new fuel options could help the farmers of India... or are they fake?
As the fuel prices in almost all parts of the country are skyrocketing and creating new all-time highs, there is a scramble to find alternatives or any type of new solutions to combat this rising problem. Electricity, Hydrogen, CNG, and so many more are being researched to replace the fast depleting fossil fuels. Now there are various options, from electric cars and propane or alcohol-based vehicles to natural-gas-powered buses and trucks. A lot of controversies and theories have arisen surrounding this topic, including questions simply such as, "Just why?!", "Are they actually green?", "Are they good for my pocket?", and they all [don't] have simple answers.
On the surface, all these seem to have the same answer, "They're better than the traditional fossil fuels at least", but it's much more complex than that. When we read about this in-depth, we come to know about some hidden details. Hidden details such as ethanol 'technically' leads to increased use of fuel and lesser mileage. While we'll get this to later, let's address the elephant in this room, are these alternate options feasible, and what do I mean by the title? Recent news in India stated,
"the target for 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) has advanced to 2025 from 2030".
This measure is aimed at reducing the country’s oil import bill and carbon dioxide pollution. The central government has also released an expert committee report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025. The roadmap proposes a gradual rollout of ethanol-blended fuel to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and a phased rollout of E20 from April 2023 to April 2025.
This, indirectly also helps India's main economic source, Agriculture. Ethanol [C2H5OH] is a simple alcohol (the same stuff as in beer, wine, and spirits) that is primarily produced by fermenting biomass (or the waste plant parts). India, being an Agricultural-based economy, can largely benefit from this and provide much-needed relief to the farmers by giving them an additional source of income.
But is blending Ethanol actually beneficial for us, the consumers? Currently, 8.5% ethanol is blended with petrol in India. The same committee report also noted that:
There is an estimated loss of six-seven per cent fuel efficiency for four wheelers and three-four per cent for two wheelers when using E20.
[E20 contains 20% ethanol blended with petrol]
This means that this fuel mix is not feasible for us unless the prices of E20 are 6/7% lower than the normal petrol prices at least. The Union government has emphasized that increased use of ethanol can help reduce the oil import bill. India’s net import cost stands at $551 billion in 2020-21. It is estimated that the E20 program can save the country $4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) per annum. Last year, oil companies procured ethanol worth about Rs 21,000 crore. Another perspective to why the oil companies are buying ethanol even though it's technically a competitor to them is that ethanol mixed with petrol reduces the mileage of the vehicle, and lesser mileage means more fuel consumption, which directly results in more profits. Petrol (of course) contains more energy than ethanol. 1 litre of ethanol produces 23.5 million joules, and while that's a lot, 1 litre of petrol produces 33.5 million joules. This implies that there is about 30% less energy in a tank full of ethanol than that of petrol, and 6% less in an E20 fuel than the normal petrol.
If the prices of E20 aren't at least 6% lesser than petrol, you're ripping yourself off. And producing and burning ethanol results in CO2 emissions. Hence, the net CO2 emission benefit depends on how ethanol is made and whether or not indirect impacts on land use are included in the calculations. Currently, in the USA, 98% of the gasoline is a blended form of ethanol, most commonly E10. It is said to reduce air pollution as it oxygenates the fuel. India is looking to follow the American footsteps and reduce its air pollution while also save a lot of money. 2 birds from one stone, but are we a bit too late?
Still on the topic of the United States, they have now moved on towards electric vehicles, and are also looking at hydrogen, propanol, biodiesel, and more.
We clearly have a long way to go, but apart from Ethanol, there are many, many more alternatives available now. Some being used widely, while others experimental in nature. I'll be listing them briefly below:
Electricity: The common man of alternate fuels now, the good old electric vehicles have been increasing sharply after various initiatives and subsidies being offered for them. Even the first electric cars date back to the late 1800s, they only became more common and practical a few years ago, as the infrastructure for it developed. Electricity powers 2 kinds of vehicles, Battery powered and fuel-cell vehicles. The battery-powered vehicles are the most common ones and need to be charged by being plugged into a charger, while the latter run on electricity developed by photochemical reactions that occur when hydrogen and oxygen are combined. The fuel-cell vehicles produce electricity without combustion or pollution. The only downside is that most of the electricity produced today is generated today from coal or natural gas, leaving a bad carbon footprint (more on that some other day!).
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): CNG is an alternative fuel that burns clean and is comparatively very cheap. Cars and trucks with specially designed engines produce fewer harmful emissions than petrol or diesel. Lack of infrastructure is the only reason this isn't a daily use fuel yet.
Hydrogen: Hydrogen can be used for certain internal combustion engines when mixed with some gasses. This fuel has no bad emissions, but is very expensive and is considered inefficient energetically.
Propane: Propane—also called liquefied petroleum gas or LPG—is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Already widely used as a fuel for cooking and heating, propane is also an up-and-coming alternative fuel for vehicles. While producing lesser emissions than fossil fuels, lack of infrastructure and sustainable research doesn't make this viable now.
Biodiesel: Biodiesel is an alternative fuel based on vegetable oils or animal fats, even those recycled after restaurants have used them for cooking. Vehicle engines can be converted to burn biodiesel in its pure form, and biodiesel can also be blended with petroleum diesel and used in unmodified engines. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle emissions, such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. The back draw for this is that there are limited resources for this, which can't fulfill the large quantities needed by the general public.
Methanol: Just like ethanol, methanol was being prepped as a mainstream alternative fuel. It is still an important option to produce hydrogen for fuel-cell vehicles.
P-Series Fuels: P-Series fuels are a blend of ethanol, natural gas liquids, and methyltetrahydrofuran or MeTHF [I know you skipped that word ;)] a co-solvent derived from biomass. Also known as flex-fuel, they are clear, high-octane alternative fuels that can be used in modified engines. Even though they aren't that powerful, and the engine modifications are scarcely done, they provide a good, clean alternative.
In summary, we're experimenting on several alternatives, and many are feasible, and although most aren't as effective as the traditional fossil fuels, giant leaps are being taken in this field. As we progress through our research, careful monitoring and assessment of emissions changes will be needed to make sure that emission reduction potential can be enhanced to reach its highest potential while also providing adequate power to remain cost-effective for the common man.
Comments