Grain-based ethanol's share rises to nearly 51% in 2023-24 supply year

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : For the first time, India has achieved a higher ethanol production from grains, especially maize, than sugar-based feedstock, on the back of a government cap on the diversion of sugar for producing the biofuel. The share of grain-based ethanol stands at nearly 51% so far in the current ethanol-supply year (November 2023-October 2024), said two officials with access to data. Till 9 June, 357.12 crore litres of ethanol have been produced—175.74 crore litres from sugar-based feedstock—sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses and C-heavy molasses—and 181.38 crore litres from grain-based feedstock—damaged foodgrains, surplus rice and maize available with Food Corp.

of India, said one of the officials. Maize alone has contributed 110.82 crore litres, the official added. The country produced 1,350 crore litres of the renewable fuel in the supply year 2022-23, of which 37.4% or 505 crore litres came from grains.

India has achieved an ethanol blend of 12.7% with petrol as of 9 June, against the target of 15% for the current year. The government, which has set a 2025-26 deadline for achieving E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol, is trying to diversify sources for ethanol production to reduce its dependency on sugar-based feedstock. For the same, the government capped the diversion of sugar for producing the green fuel at 1.7 million tonnes for the 2023-24 supply year in December.

The Centre, in April, also allowed sugar mills to convert their existing stock of 670,000 tonnes of B-heavy molasses—accumulated before the introduction of the cap—into ethanol. Ethanol, a 99.9% pure alcohol, is added to fuel to reduce the country's dependence on imported crude oil. In India, the biofuel is primarily produced from sugar-based feedstock