World Biofuel Day 2025: How Bharat is Leading the Green Energy Revolution in Biofuels
Current Progress in Bharat’s Biofuel Sector
Ethanol blending: As of January 2025, India achieved an ethanol blending rate of 19.6 %, very nearly meeting its 20 % (E20) target—five years ahead of schedule. The blending percentage surged from 1.53 % in 2014 to 15 % in 2024.
Compressed Biogas (CBG) Innovations: A ₹100 crore CBG plant is being set up in Bilaspur to process 150 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day, yielding 5–10 tonnes of CBG, while promoting waste-to‑energy, organic farming through fertilizers, job creation (~30,000/year), and GST revenues. In Punjab, plans are underway to manage paddy‑straw via CBG, though local resistance due to environmental and social concerns persists.
State‑Level Push in Bihar: Bihar is ramping up biofuel production via jatropha cultivation and ethanol-based solutions. It currently produces 5.65 billion litres of ethanol across 12 plants, exporting 60 % to southern India, and plans to launch 9 more ethanol factories by 2026. A new “Biofuels Production Promotion (Amendment) Policy, 2025” encourages both ethanol and CBG generation from agricultural and animal waste.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery has become the first in India certified to produce SAF, by converting used cooking oil into a co‑processed aviation fuel alternative.
International Collaborations & R&D: Karnataka’s 2025–26 biofuel policy includes MoUs with German universities, a new biogas plant, and biofuel‑powered vehicles at its research centre, with fiscal incentives and infrastructure support. Research on “advanced biofuels” encompasses microalgae, sweet sorghum, lignin valorization, and biomass-to‑methanol or jet/ marine fuels.
India’s Place in the Global Bioenergy Market: India is projected to become the fastest-growing bioenergy market worldwide between 2023–2030. Targets include 20 % ethanol blending by 2025/26, 5 % biodiesel by 2030, 5 % CBG by 2028/29, 7 % biomass co‑firing in coal plants by 2026, and 2 % biojet blending by 2028.
Bioeconomy’s Economic Growth: India’s bioeconomy expanded from ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to ₹15,100 crore in 2023, with projections of ₹30,000 crore by 2030, driven by industrial biotechnology developments in biofuels, biomass, and biogas.
The Road Ahead: Future of Biofuels in India
Next‑Gen Technologies: Emphasis is growing on second‑generation (2G) biofuels from non‑food biomass such as lignocellulosic material, agricultural residues, and algae. These offer strong greenhouse gas reductions (60–90 %) compared to fossil fuels. Prominent players like IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL are engaged in building 2G biorefineries.
Algae‑based Biofuels: Innovations in photobioreactor design, genetic engineering, and cultivation are bringing algae into focus as a high-potential, CO₂‑capturing biofuel feedstock.
Certification & Market Instruments: For programs like mandatory CBG blending, India still needs to set up enabling mechanisms like certificate trading markets, akin to those used for biogas.
Global Alignment: India is a founding member of the Global Biofuels Alliance, launched in 2023 at the G20 Summit, which advocates for sustainable biofuel standards and global cooperation.
Climate Impact & Sustainability
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Emission cut: Biofuels help curb GHG emissions by replacing fossil fuels. Ethanol and CBG significantly reduce particulate emissions (e.g., PM2.5), aiding air-quality improvements.
Advanced biofuels: Second-generation and algae-based fuels can slash GHG emissions by up to 90 % compared to conventional fuels.
Sustainability Challenges
Land use & food security: First-gen biofuels can compete with food crops and contribute to deforestation if grown on arable land; hence, shifting to non-food feedstocks is critical.
Biodiversity & soil health: Monoculture cultivation for biofuels can harm ecosystems, reduce soil nutrients, and threaten biodiversity.
India is clearly moving toward more sustainable, advanced, and diversified biofuel strategies—balancing economic growth, rural development, and climate action.
Recommended Blog Structure
Introduction — Significance of World Biofuel Day; India’s commitment.
Current Status — Ethanol blending, CBG, SAF, state initiatives, policy progress.
Call to Action — What more needs to be done, and how readers can engage.
Source Websites & for More Details you can visit:
Next IAS – nextias.com
Vision IAS – visionias.in
Press Information Bureau (PIB) – pib.gov.in
Times of India – timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Advance Biofuel – advancebiofuel.in
Department of Biotechnology, India – dbtindia.gov.in
International Energy Agency (IEA) – iea.org
Praj Industries – praj.net
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service – apps.fas.usda.gov
Wikipedia – en.wikipedia.org
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is compiled from multiple credible sources, including government publications, reputed news portals, industry reports, and publicly available research. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and reliability, the data and projections may change over time due to policy updates, technological advancements, and market dynamics. Readers are encouraged to verify facts from official sources before making any business, investment, or policy decisions. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
