For India, the transition to biofuels aligns with its twin goals of energy security and environmental responsibility
Earth’s climate is changing at a faster pace than ever before. Rising temperatures, shifts in precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and higher frequency of extreme weather events are a few indicators of the gloom that stairs us in the face. A lot of this has been due to human activity, especially burning of fossil fuel which has led to release of greenhouse gases which trap the heat. This is heating up the planet and ruining our own chances of survival in the long term.
In this scenario the push for clean, renewable and locally sourced energy has become more urgent than ever. Biofuels have emerged as a vital alternative to fossil fuels — offering a sustainable, lower-emission pathway to power our industries and vehicles. For a growing and energy-hungry nation like India, the relevance of biofuels goes far beyond environmental benefits. They promise energy independence, economic opportunities in rural areas and a more resilient future.
Biofuels, which are derived from organic material such as agricultural waste, non-edible oilseeds and even algae, emit far fewer greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum-based fuels. Transitioning to them not only supports India’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement but also reduces its overwhelming dependence on imported crude oil, which currently covers more than 80 per cent of its oil needs. The advantages also extend to the agricultural sector, where farmers can find new income streams by selling crop residues and organic waste, which are often burned or discarded.
India has taken notable steps to tap into this potential. The National Policy on Biofuels, first launched in 2018 and updated in 2022, has set ambitious targets. India has reached a milestone in its journey toward energy independence and environmental sustainability. The nation has achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by March 2025. In less than a decade, ethanol blending has jumped from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to over 12 per cent in 2024 — a dramatic improvement.
In 2023, India further cemented its leadership role by launching the Global Biofuels Alliance during the G20 Summit, aiming to foster international collaboration on research, production and standards for biofuels. Alongside these national and international efforts, schemes like SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) have encouraged the establishment of thousands of compressed biogas plants, turning organic waste into clean energy.
However, challenges remain. Feedstock availability is inconsistent and often seasonal, making logistics and supply chain management difficult. Second-generation biofuels, which use crop residues and waste rather than sugarcane or corn, are still more expensive to produce. There are also technological hurdles in processing certain kinds of biomass efficiently. Without sufficient investment in research and infrastructure, scaling up production remains a complex task. Despite these obstacles, the direction is clear. India’s growing emphasis on biofuels is more than a green initiative — it is a strategic move to secure its energy future, strengthen rural economies and assert global leadership in sustainable development.
