Shift from Sugar to Maize and Rice Marks India’s Growing Ethanol Production
Published on: June 27, 2024.
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India’s Shift towards Grain-Based Ethanol Production Leads to Higher Yield
India has successfully increased its ethanol production from grains like maize, surpassing its production from sugar. This shift in focus was initiated by the government to promote the use of grains for ethanol production. Recent reports suggest that the share of ethanol produced from grain has reached 51% for the period spanning November 2023 to October 2024, according to two officials with access to this information. Maize, a widely cultivated cereal, has become a key crop for commercial use in ethanol production, which is later blended with petrol.
Notably, in the 2022-23 period, only 37.4% of India’s ethanol came from grains. However, with the government’s efforts to diversify ethanol sources, the production landscape has significantly changed.
India’s ethanol production statistics reveal that until June 9, the country produced a total of 357.12 crore litres of ethanol. Out of this, 175.74 crore litres were produced from sugar, while 181.38 crore litres were sourced from grains. Maize accounted for 110.82 crore litres alone, with the remaining amount coming from damaged foodgrain and surplus rice from the Food Corporation of India.
India’s aim is to achieve 20% ethanol blending with petrol (E20) by 2025-26. Currently, the country has achieved 12.7% blending, which falls short of the government’s target of 15% for this year. By promoting grain-based ethanol production, India aims to reduce its reliance on imported crude oil.
The government’s decision to discourage the use of sugar for ethanol production stems from concerns over the crop’s significant water consumption. Reports indicate that one acre of land producing 60-80 tonnes of sugarcane requires around nine lakh litres of water, twice a month on average. This water-intensive process has prompted the government to prioritize the use of grains, which demand significantly less water for cultivation and production.
Furthermore, India faces significant challenges in meeting the 20% ethanol blending target of 2025. To produce enough ethanol, the country would require a whopping 1320 million tons of sugarcane, an additional 19 million hectares of land, and 348 billion cubic meters of water. A report by the NITI Aayog also reveals that producing just one litre of ethanol from sugarcane consumes around 2,860 litres of water.
By promoting the use of grain-based ethanol production, India aims to mitigate these environmental concerns and achieve a more sustainable and self-sufficient method of ethanol production.
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