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TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: TRANSPORTATION

methanol & DME are available and can be recent developments in automotive technology,
improved and implemented by existing it is required to produce better quality, low
refineries. As India generates significant cost biofuels. For this, research on advanced
quantity of solid wastes and having thousands technologies for conversion of raw materials to
of landfills sites, the use of landfill gases (LF)/ high quality biofuels is required.
MSW to produce methanol may be explored.
rd
Technology options for gasification of high ash Development of 3 generation biofuels: First
Indian coal (typically 34-40%) can be pursued. and second generation biofuels like ethanol and
Studies are required to assess the techno- biodiesel have a number of inherent limitations
economic feasibility for production of methanol/ which make them less than ideal as a long-term
DME through this route. Use of direct methanol replacement for petroleum fuels. The primary
fuel cells (DMFC) in transport applications is at feedstock for first generation ethanol (corn
R & D stage. Research efforts are underway for and sugarcane based) and biodiesel (rapeseed,
development of a downsized /turbocharged SI soybeans, and palm based) are crop based,
dedicated methanol engine with same torque which competes with food crops for scarce land
and efficiency as of diesel. However, M 85 or resources, fresh water, and fertilizers. These fuels
100% methanol application would require cannot be used in unmodified engines beyond
augmentation of availability of Methanol. minor blends. First and second generation
biofuels account for more than 99% of current
4.5.3 BIOFUELS global biofuel production, therefore there is
Biofuel production from renewable sources a need to develop third generation fuels in
is widely considered to be one of the most order to avoid this “Food vs. Fuels” dichotomy.
sustainable alternatives to petroleum fuels and a Microalgae are currently being promoted as an
viable means for environmental and economic ideal third generation biofuel feedstock because
sustainability. Refer Figure 4.5 for the biofuel of their rapid growth rate, CO fixation ability
2
generation technologies. Biofuels are also an and high production capacity of lipids. Alage
alternative for powering vehicles, replacing also does not compete with food crops for
traditional petroleum based fuels. The complete resources, and can be easily produced on non-
landscape of different generations of biofuels is arable land. Microalgae have broad bio-energy
shown in the figure 4.5. potential as they can be used to produce liquid
transportation fuels, such as biodiesel and bio-
st
Development of 1 generation biofuels: ethanol.
First-generation biofuels are extracted from
agricultural products such as beetroots, rape- During recent years, the production of many
seed, etc. However they compete with food first-generation biofuels has faced severe
production. Second-generation biofuels are criticism regarding its sustainability. On the one
produced using the non-edible part of plants hand, rise in agricultural commodity prices
(straw, wood, plant waste). Unlike first- have spurred discussions as to what extent
generation biofuels, they do not compete with first-generation biofuels can be produced
the use of raw materials as food. They can be without adversely affecting the food production.
used directly in conventional vehicles and will Despite the fact that some of the currently
considerably reduce CO emissions. produced biofuels are performing well in terms
2
of economic and environmental sustainability,
Development of 2 generation biofuels: ongoing debates shifts focus onto second and
nd
Biomass is the oldest source of energy since third generation biofuels, which are based on
ancient time and currently accounts for roughly non-edible biomass and promise to avoid the
10% of total primary energy consumption sustainability concerns related to current biofuel
globally. While traditional biomass in the form production. Therefore in long-term, it will be
of fuel wood remains the main source of necessary to develop industrial scale biofuel
bioenergy, liquid biofuel production has shown production capability for second and third
rapid growth during last decade. Second- generation biofuels. The alternate fuel landscape
generation biofuels, produced from the non- in India is shown in table 4.3
edible part of plants are used to power vehicles,
thereby limiting their CO emissions. With
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