India Tests Biofuel Isobutanol-Diesel Blends

India is conducting testing of 10 % blends of isobutanol with diesel as a step to diversify biofuels, energy security and to lower the imports of fossil fuels. Tests are being led by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) who are investigating options after ethanol-diesel blends were identified as technically difficult to achieve.

Why Isobutanol?

• Benefits relative to ethanol: Isobutanol has increased energy density (nearer to diesel), it doesn't absorb water as much and is less corrosive, thus is more appropriate in diesel engines.

• Weaknesses: It can be mixed with diesel, applied as a stand alone fuel or mixed with compressed natural gas (CNG), which can be applied to agricultural machinery.

History: Ethanol Blending.

India has also managed to blend 20 % of ethanol in petrol earlier than it was expected to, which will increase farm earnings and decrease oil imports.

But the ethanol-diesel blends did not work because of the engine corrosion and water absorption problems .

Government Programs and Experiments.

• Alternative fuels are urged by the National Biofuel Policy (2018) as a way of diversifying energy and rural economies.
• ARAI is also testing 10 % isobutanol-diesel blends in terms of engine performance and compatibility.
• Flex-fuel (isobutanol-CNG mixtures) using tractors are also being investigated.

Farmers and Industry.

• Already, farmers in the production of corn-based ethanols have earned farmers 42,000 crores through biofuel projects.

• The sugar business (major feedstock of ethanol) continues to grow with sugar production projected to increase by 20 percent in 2025-26 .
• The industry groups are pressurizing the government to raise the price of sugarcane and export quotas to aid the mills and farmers.

Future Steps

• The government focuses on the increased production of advanced biofuels that are non-food based such as bamboo and agricultural waste.

• Adjustments to the sugarcane prices and export policies are also demanded in order to maintain the growth in the biofuel industry.