Global Biofuels Alliance

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Context:

• Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) has adopted a work plan focused on assessing country landscapes, drafting policy frameworks, and conducting biofuel workshops, at a key meeting of the body held on the sidelines of the G20 deliberations in Brazil.

Work Plan contains the following:

• It aims to assess country landscapes, draft policy frameworks, and conduct workshops to expedite biofuel adoption worldwide.
• Immediate goals include setting standards for biofuel, expanding formal biofuel markets, and mapping demand and supply.

Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)
About	●It was launched during the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi with the aim of promoting biofuel usage globally.
Membership	●24 countries, including G20 and non-G20 nations like South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and potentially Tanzania, have joined the GBA. ●African nations, in particular, show significant interest in the initiative.
Key Players	●India and Brazil are the main drivers behind the GBA, with shared long-term goals regarding biofuels. ●Brazil's leadership as the current G20 chair has provided impetus to the initiative.
Governance Structure and Secretariat	●Currently, it lacks a charter and permanent secretariat.
Global Engagements	●The GBA has actively engaged in global forums such as the United Nations COP28 Summit, World Economic Forum in Davos, and the G7 energy minister's meeting in Italy. ●These engagements aim to build the profile of the GBA and showcase its plans and objectives on a global stage.
India's Role and Goals	●India sees the GBA as a platform to position itself as a climate and sustainability champion and amplify its voice in global discussions. ●By assisting lower and middle-income countries in starting biofuels programs, India aims to bridge the gap between production and procurement.

Initiatives taken by India to promote biofuels:

• National Policy on Biofuels (2018):
  • The National Policy on Biofuels aims to achieve blending targets of 20% ethanol in petrol and 5% biodiesel in diesel by 2030.
  • Recently amendment was made where Instead of 2030, the Centre plans to move ahead with its ethanol blending target of 20% of petrol containing ethanol by 2025-26
  • It categorizes biofuels into first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), and third-generation (3G) biofuels, emphasizing the promotion of advanced biofuels.
  • The policy promotes the use of surplus food grains, agricultural residues, and non-edible oilseeds for biofuel production to minimize competition with food crops.
• Ethanol Blending Program (EBP):
  • India has set a target of achieving 10% ethanol blending with petrol (E10) by 2022 and subsequently increasing it to 20% (E20) by 2030.
  • As of 2022, ethanol blending in petrol stands at around 8.5%.
  • The government has announced various measures to increase ethanol production, including incentivizing ethanol production from surplus food grains and sugarcane juice.
• Biodiesel Purchase Policy:
  • India aims to achieve 5% blending of biodiesel with diesel by 2030.
  • The government provides fiscal incentives and support prices under this to encourage the production of biodiesel from non-edible oilseeds such as Jatropha, pongamia, and used cooking oil.
• National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC):
  • NBCC was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister, of Petroleum & Natural Gas (P&NG) to provide overall coordination, effective end-to-end implementation, and monitoring of the biofuel program. NBCC has members from 14 other ministries.
  • It plays a crucial role in monitoring the progress of biofuel projects, addressing bottlenecks, and formulating policies to promote biofuel development.
• Research and Development Initiatives:
  • India has several research institutions and centers dedicated to bioenergy research and development, including the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Indian Oil Corporation's R&D center, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  • Research focuses on improving biofuel production processes, developing efficient conversion technologies, and exploring novel feedstocks.
• Biofuel Projects and Investments:
  • India has witnessed significant investments in biofuel projects, including ethanol and biodiesel plants.
  • Public and private sector investments have been made in setting up ethanol distilleries, biodiesel refineries, and biomass-based power generation units.
• Promotion of Alternative Feedstocks:
  • India is exploring alternative feedstocks such as lignocellulosic biomass, algae, and industrial waste for biofuel production.
  • The government provides support for research and development projects aimed at commercializing advanced biofuels from non-food biomass sources.

Details about biofuels:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/biofuels-27

Conclusion:

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects significant growth in biofuel usage by 2050 due to Net-Zero targets. Despite being the third-largest producer of ethanol globally, India's contribution to global procurement remains relatively low.

Source:

https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/global-biofuel-alliance-sets-up-three-pronged-work-plan-says-govt-124050500378_1.html

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements about Global Biofuel Alliance: It has a permanent secretariat in New Delhi. It was launched in the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi with the aim of promoting biofuel usage globally. More than 90 countries have so far joined the alliance. It puts forth a binding agreement based on the GBA charter. How many of the above statements is/are correct? A.Only one B.Only two C.Only three D.All Four Answer: A