We need to understand the biofuels in its majorly two forms i.e. ethanol and biomass. —  Vinod Johri

The 20th century witnessed the emergence of climate change as one of the most critical problems in thethe world. There is plenty of proof that human civilization is the primary cause of this climate change and that its effects are having an impact on global food and energy supply, economic and political stability, and migratory patterns. As they emit less carbon than other conventional fuels, biofuels are a more environmentally friendly substitute for traditional, non-renewable fossil fuels. Before embarking on the studies on its economic impact on the country and its commercial production and usage, we need to understand the biofuels in its majorly two forms i.e. ethanol and biomass. Otherwise, we will be lost in the statistics without even knowing the abundance of our biofuel sources with us. Honestly, we have not only ignored the biofuels but also wasted our resources so far. 

Ever-increasing population growth, predicted to reach over 9 billion by 2050, that demands more energy produces tremendous pressure on natural energy reserves such as coal and petroleum, causing their depletion. Climate prediction models predict that drought events will be more intense during the 21st century affecting agricultural productivity. The renewable energy needs in the global energy supply must stabilize surface temperature rise to 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial values. To address the global climate issue and higher energy demand without depleting fossil reserves, growing bioenergy feedstock as the potential resource for biodiesel production could be a viable alternative. The interest in growing biofuels for biodiesel production has increased due to its potential benefits over fossil fuels and the flexibility of feedstocks.The use of fossil fuels as the primary source of energy generation is already causing various effects on natural resources, the environment and human health. Even though the production of biofuels emits Green House Gases (GHG) at several stages of the process, Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) analysis of the year 2010 of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) revealed that several types of biofuels could yield lower lifecycle GHG emissions than gasoline over a 30-year time horizon, this emission scale decreases as we move from the first to second and then Biofuel and bioenergy types.

The fossil fuel industry leases vast lands for infrastructure, devastating landscapes, habitats and ecosystems—strip mining razes forests and mountaintops that can never regenerate. Fragmentation destroys critical wildlife breeding and migration habitats, displacing animals into inferior areas to compete with existing wildlife. The extraction and transport of coal, oil and gas also threatens water systems through toxic runoff, spills, fracking fluids or wastewater overflows contaminating rivers, lakes, aquifers and oceans, with pollutants linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological damage. Vast volumes of drilling and mining toxic wastewater are stored in leakage pits and wells. Additionally, fossil fuel-powered transport releases smog-forming pollutants, causing respiratory illness from sustained exposure.

Recently, a number of researches and articles have appeared in the newspapers, magazines and social media. It has grabbed the attention of the policy makers, energy sector experts and researchers to explore its dimensions for supplementing the energy needs of the country with dual aims of clean energy and self-reliance. 

The primary cause of this issue is the heavy reliance that has impact on fossil fuels, which account for nearly 80 % of all energy consumption worldwide. Fossil fuels have traditionally been the main source of energy. However, the supply of fossil fuels will inevitably decline as fuel consumption rises. To combat the extraordinary rate of climate change brought on by the increase of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, there is a clear need to shift energy dependency from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources.The main elements driving the need to convert to an alternative solution are the reduced potential for pollution and the reduced impact on global warming. Most likely, to meet the world’s energy demands, interest is growing in biofuels that can be produced form organic material, diverse biomass feedstock both terrestrial plants and aquatic algae, have been found to provide sustainable fuels to replace fossil fuels.

Biofuels are combustible fuels created from biomass, fuels created from recently living plant matter as opposed to ancient plant matter in hydrocarbons. The term biofuel is usually used to reference liquid fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel that are used as replacements for transportation fuels like petroleum, diesel and jet fuel. Biofuels can also include solid fuels like wood pellets and biogas or syngas. While ethanol is an alcohol and biodiesel is an oil.  Ethanol is an alcohol formed by fermentation and can be used as a replacement for, or additive to, gasoline whereas biodiesel is produced by extracting naturally occurring oils from plants and seeds in a process called transesterification. Biodiesel can be combusted in diesel engines. Biofuel production has emerged as a leading contender in the quest for renewable energy solutions, offering a promising path toward a greener future.

Biofuels are grouped by categories – first generation, second generation, and third generation – based on the type of feedstock, the input material, used to produce them.

First-generation biofuels are produced from edible biomass, but even in highly efficient processes, their yield isn’t enough to cast them as a better alternative to conventional fuels. The second-generation biofuels are produced from non-edible biomass, where the substrate is eco-friendly and provides a sustainable use of solid waste, but the pretreatment is overpriced and sophisticated technology is needed to carry out the process. Third-generation biofuels are produced from substrates like seaweed or microalgae for which no specific area or separate cultivation process is required. Biofuels such as biohydrogen produced through microbial dark fermentation, bio-syngas generated via gasification, and biodiesel obtained through transesterification, have emerged as promising and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional fuels. These biofuels have the potential to pave the way for a bioeconomic system of fuel production, offering economic viability and efficiency. However, extensive research conducted in the field of bioenergy, several challenges persist, hindering their commercialization prospects. To overcome the problems of first, second and third-generation biofuels, fourth-generation biofuels are under development using techniques like co-culturing, nanotechnology, and genetically modified organisms. Future generations of biofuels would set a system for a circular bioeconomic pathway for sustainable development in the fuel industry.

The energy density of the biofuels is lesser than that of the conventional transportation fuels.  One gallon of biodiesel has 93% of the energy of one gallon of diesel and one gallon of ethanol has 73% of the energy of one gallon of gasoline.

The biochemical approach uses enzymes and microbes to break down biomass into precursors (amino acids, sugar and fatty acids) that are transformed into liquid biofuels like biodiesel, and crude oil by transesterification of fatty acids, bioethanol by fermentation of starch, methanol, and butanol by distillation of dry woods and biogas by aerobic sludge through biological, biochemical, and thermochemical.

Whereas in the production of solid waste agricultural feedstocks play a significant role in which crop residue, agro-industrial waste, livestock waste and algal matter and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) are the examples of biomass that have ultimate biochemical and lignocellulosic analysis. Bharat alone makes 350 million tonnes of organic waste from agriculture.

Economic impact of the biofuels is the cost factor though similar to traditional fuels yet has a smaller carbon footprint. In the long run, they tend to be more efficient with a reduced effect on the environment, with lesser emissions and fewer bioproducts they have an overall better economic value for a similar product. The biofuels facilitate easyadaptability with current engine designs. They are less flammable, more lubricated and have higher cetane,a hydrocarbon (specifically, n-hexadecane or C16H34) used as a reference fuel for diesel fuel quality.

The promising advancements in the production of biofuels through eco-friendly approaches have led to the development of multiple processes to utilize the abundantly available agricultural waste. Production of biofuels through agricultural waste has been examined to have an increase in the capital cost of the pretreatment stage. The additional costs and high energy requirements for the production of biofuel should be minimized to produce a carbon–neutral product.

An increased share of renewable energy in the global energy supply will help to stabilize surface temperature rise to 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. The temperature increase could be as much as 3–5 °C depending on certain regions. Further, a shift in rainfall was found, ranging from 19.2 to 37.2 mm over different growing seasons. With the inadequate pool of sources, particularly water, and an ever-increasing need for global energy, alternative fuels are the most practical way to meet the rising demand. 

In the next article, we will discuss Government policy issues, initiatives and economic aspects of the Biofuels.                

Sources: 
1. https://www.studentenergy.org,  
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com
3. Official website of National Institute of Health