Advanced BioFuels USA

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest)  … Is India the cash cow for biofuels? Or even the golden cow? If Aemetis’ recent 200% year over year increase in biodiesel sales is any indication…well, let’s just say we see the value.

The market

It is estimated that the ethanol market in India alone is projected to grow from $2.50 billion in 2018 to $ 7.38 billion by 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.50% during 2019-2024. Another report by the International Energy Agency says the Indian biofuel market is forecasted to grow 11% from 2019 to 2024 and referred to India’s 2018 biofuels policy created by the government which “widened the permitted feedstock base for ethanol and introduced subsidies to expand production capacity, establishing the foundations for ethanol output growth.”

As reported in The Digest just a few weeks ago, the USDA’s attaché reports that ethanol blending this year could reach a record 5.8%, above last year’s 4.1% as the government pushes for higher blending through deregulation of feedstocks, soft loans for increased investment in ethanol production and focus on 2G ethanol technologies and commercialization.

The government

So why is the market expected to grow so significantly? Why has it been growing over the last few years already? It’s partially thanks to the government.

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… (T)he focus on the “why” of biofuels has been simply national security – the government wants to lower reliance on importing energy from other countries.

Call it nationalist. Call it homeland security. Call it whatever you want, but the fact is they repeatedly refer to biofuels as a way to lower reliance on exports. Not to mention, they want to show the world that they are Innovators. Entrepreneurs. Creative problem solvers. Technical geniuses.

So what is the government’s biofuel policy?
As reported in The Digest a week ago, celebrations of the country’s World Biofuel Day over the weekend led to the government highlighting their interest in the procurement of biodiesel from used cooking oil across 100 cities and asking for companies to submit Expression of Interest (EOI). The purpose of inviting this EOI is to encourage the applicants to set up Biodiesel producing plants from Used Cooking Oil (UCO), processing plants and further utilizing the existing potential of UCO based Bio-diesel in India.

The National Policy on Biofuels envisages production of biofuel from UCO and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is implementing a strategy to divert UCO from the food value chain and curb current illegal usage.    READ MORE

State-run oil marketing companies to buy biodiesel made from used cooking oil (The Hindu)

Oil marketing companies to procure biodiesel from used cooking oil (The Hindu Business Line)

Govt launches programme for converting used cooking oil into biodiesel in 100 cities (Times of India)

Used cooking oil may fuel cars as OMCs look to procure biodiesel (Business Standard)

Sources say govt may ask oil cos to buy ethanol made from sugar (Cogencis)

Call to allow diversion of more sugar for ethanol manufacture (The Hindu Business Line)

Aemetis India sets biodiesel production record in 2019 (Biofuels International)