Global Biofuels Alliance [UPSC Notes]

Global Biofuel Alliance is one of the priorities under India’s G20 Presidency under which Brazil, India, and the United States, will work together during the next few months towards the development of a Global Biofuels Alliance along with other interested countries. Know more about International Biofuel Alliance for the IAS exam.

International Biofuel Alliance

The Alliance shall work in collaboration with and complement the relevant existing regional and international agencies as well as initiatives in the bioenergy, bioeconomy, and energy transition fields more broadly, including the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives, and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).

International Biofuel Alliance Objectives:

• Promoting the use of sustainable biofuels.
• Development and strengthening of the biofuel market
• Facilitating global biofuel trade.
• Development of Biofuel policy.

What are Biofuels?

• Biofuel is considered pure and the easiest available fuel on planet earth. Biofuels are obtained from biomass like wood and straw, which are released by direct combustion of dry matter and converted into a gaseous and liquid fuel. 
• Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials collectively known as “biomass”. 
• Ethanol made from the fermentation of sugarcane juice and molasses is one of the widely used biofuels because of its clean and affordable nature.
• Biofuel is generally available in all regions of the world, which mainly include fuels like:
• • Biodiesel
  • Bioethanol
  • Bio methanol
• The two most common types of biofuels in use today are bioethanol and biodiesel.

Need for the Alliance:

• Alliance will promote the use of biofuels which will ensure energy security for the country and also reduce import dependence on crude oil.
• The government envisages that biofuel can play a strategic role in this regard by diversifying India’s energy basket. 
• Biofuels will also help in saving forex reserves due to the diversification of the energy basket.
• India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of sugarcane. The sugarcane farmers face distress due to a demand-supply mismatch in the market and wastage. 
  • In this context, the government promoted the diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol production under the ethanol blending programme. 
  • Biofuels also aid in doubling farmers income and boost price discovery.
• Government think tank NITI Aayog also believes that an Alliance will further the role of biofuel in the global fuel basket.

Conclusion: According to the International Energy Agency, global demand for biofuels is set to grow by 41 billion liters, or 28%, over 2021-2026. In this context, the early move by the Indian government will give an upper hand in this biofuel sector.

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