A paper title: "Biofuel Production in India and its Implication on Food, Water and Energy Security" co-authored by Ms. Ruchi Goyal, Sr Research Fellow, UPES, Dr. Avanish k. Tiwari, Senior Principal Scientist, UPES and Dr. Parag Diwan, Vice Chancellor, UPES was presented at the symposium on Energy-Food-Water Security Challenge: A Multi-dimensional Perspective at University of Technology, Sydney Australia (16-18th July, 2013)
Biofuel production in india and its implication on food, water and energy security abstract
1. White Paper on
Biofuel Production in India and its Implication on Food, Water and Energy
Security
Authors: Ms. Ruchi Goyal1
, Dr. Avanish k. Tiwari2
and Dr. Parag Diwan3
Abstract
Energy security is an essential building block for a developing country like India. In spite of
several energy sector reforms, country is facing serious energy shortages and is forced to rely
heavily on imports especially to meet the demand of transport sector. In such a scenario biofuel
has emerged as a potential option which can not only reduce country’s dependence on foreign
oil but could also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Biofuels apart from contributing towards energy security have various impacts on food and
water resources. Although, the National Biofuel Policy of India has limited the production of
bioethanol to molasses (a by-product of sugar industry) and biodiesel to non-edible seed oil
such as jatropha, pongamia etc., the experts anticipate that biofuel program in country will
disturb food market and result in depletion of water resources.
In this paper different biofuel production technologies (using different feedstocks), their
implications on food, water, environment/climate change etc. and meeting the ambitious
blending targets set by the Government of India in the current scenario have been analysed.
1 Senior Research Fellow, Center for Alternate Energy Research, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
2 Senior Principal Scientist, Center for Alternate Energy Research, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
3 Vice Chancellor, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
Corporate Office: PHDCCI, 3rd Floor, 4/2 Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi 110016
Corresponding authors: rgoyal@upes.ac.in