What is Ethanol and Methanol Blending, How They are Being Used & Advantages Over Fuels | Explained

November 08, 2023

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by Majid Alam (News 18) At present, 10 per cent ethanol is blended in petrol and the government is looking to double this quantity by 2025 -- India is pushing for higher ethanol-blended fuel for cleaner energy and its economic value and the country has moved a long way in the last five years.

The country is working on ethanol and methanol blended fuel to run vehicles to reduce emissions and the cost of fuel imports. At present, 10 per cent ethanol is blended in petrol (10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent petrol) and the government is looking to double this quantity by 2025. Earlier this year, petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol was rolled out at select petrol pumps in 11 states and union territories.

Biofuels like ethanol and methanol, when mixed with conventional fuels like petrol, are much cheaper and viable options to run vehicles as they have low manufacturing costs and reduce dependency on oil imports. Here is all you need to know about ethanol and methanol and how their blending will be a viable solution for cleaner fuel.

WHAT ARE ETHANOL AND METHANOL?

Methanol and Ethanol are both different variants of alcohol. Ethanol (C2H5OH) and methanol (CH3OH) can be manufactured from natural products or waste materials which is renewable.

Ethanol, an anhydrous ethyl alcohol can be produced from sugarcane, maize, wheat, etc which have high starch content. In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molasses by fermentation process.

Methanol is a low-carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel. It can be produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas. Methanol burns efficiently in all internal combustion engines, and produces negligible particulate matter and soot, almost nil SOX and NOX emissions (Near Zero Pollution).

ETHANOL AND METHANOL BLENDING IN INDIA

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Flex-fuel like ethanol have several advantages: it is good for the environment and helps in lowering emissions, it helps the country to cut down on its crude oil import bills, it helps the farmers growing crops like sugarcane or rice and finally it reduces the logistics cost and overall cost of transportation.

Here is a detailed look at some of the advantages that ethanol and methanol blended fuels have:

India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, is currently 85 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs. India has saved around Rs 53,894 crore in forex outgo from 10 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol, a report in PTI said.
Use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane, broken rice and other agriculture produce, will help the farmers and reduce their reliance on overseas shipments. During the last eight years, farmers have earned Rs 49,078 crore.
Ethanol and methanol are manufactured from natural products or waste materials which is renewable and will replace gasoline fuel which are non-renewable energy. Both the fuels are also water soluble and biodegradable in the environment, cutting the consequences of a spill in the ocean.
Use of E20 (20 per cent of ethanol in fuels) leads to an estimated reduction of carbon monoxide emissions by about 50 per cent in two-wheelers and about 30 per cent in four-wheelers compared to neat petrol.
The Methanol Economy is expected to create around 50 lakh jobs through methanol production, its application and distribution services. Additionally, Rs 6,000 crore could be saved annually by blending 20 per cent DME (Di-methyl Ether, a derivative of methanol) in LPG. READ MORE