A Historical Perspective on the Biofuel Policies in India

Abstract

Despite having a valuable resource like biomass, India has constantly failed to tap its potential. For instance, out of a total annual potential of 29–48 billion m³, the Indian biogas sector only produces 2.07 billion m³ per year. A similar situation has been there with the other biofuel sectors like bioethanol and biodiesel, where we have consistently failed to achieve the set blending targets. This points out the constant mismatch between the previous policies formed in the sector and the actual output received. The chapter analyzes the key factors that have played a major role in shaping the biofuel policies in India after independence. The timeline between 1947 and 2021 is analyzed to understand the processes that went through in the backdrop of biofuel policy formulation. This helps us in getting a micro picture of why these policies have not been able to deploy biofuels as a substitute in the Indian automobile sector at a mass scale. Majorly depending on limited number of first-generation feedstocks hindered the policies to achieve blending targets. It was found that issues like—opting for a top-down approach in initial policies, not scaling up the research and development in the initial stages, lack of coordination between stakeholders, etc., are also the main reasons for not achieving the expected goals. The work can potentially help to formulate a robust way of defining biofuel development pathways in the upcoming renewable boom, which can improve the share of biofuels in the overall renewable sector.