Upcoming Alternatives : Bio-fuels

Alok AdholeyaAlok AdholeyaDirector, Biotechnology and Director, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Management of Bioresources

Division, Division, The Energy and Resources Institute, The Energy and Resources Institute,

New DelhiNew Delhi

Why biofuels? Country's dependence on crude import impact on fuel price stability.

It is renewable and does not contribute to global warming due to its closed carbon cycle.Carbon in the fuel was originally removed from the air by plants so there is no net increase in carbon dioxide levels.

It provides a market for non-edible oil and excess production of vegetable oils & animal fats.Better opportunity cost.Significant carbon emission reductionFaster GDP growth, Lower Imports, energy prices & geopolitical sensitivities

Source: Biofuels Program, Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro, NC

Biofuels: Why now?Rising energy

demand & prices

Rising threat of climate change

Biofuels can secure energy

supply

Biofuels can decrease GHG

emissions

Source: Joachim von Braun, 2007. International Food Policy Research Institute, Melbourne

Technology Improvements needs

• Bioengineering• Enzymes• Plant engineering

• Process & Process Yields• Process Cost• Pre-treatment• Co-production of chemicals • Process Yield gals/ ton• Consolidated bioprocessing

•Energy crops•Jatropha•Pongamia•Castor•Sweet Sorghum•Microalgae

•Miscanthus•Switch grass•Poplar•Willow

•“Out of the Box”• Synthetic Biology• Nanotechnology• Thermochemical

Source: Vinod Khosla, 2006. www. khoslaventures.com

Future Alternative Diesel Fuels

Source: Rudy Smaling, 2007. HRAC

Next Generation Biofuel

Source: Luc Werring, 2006. European Commission, DG Energy and Transport

Next Generation Biofuel

Source: Luc Werring, 2006. European Commission, DG Energy and Transport

Source: Doug Frater, 2007. Global Green Solutions Inc.

Source: Doug Frater, 2007. Global Green Solutions Inc.

Technological gaps

Limitations of open pond / raceway concept•Light penetration

•surface area

•water evaporation

•process

•temperature control (seasonal changes)

•contamination from other airborne algaeSource: Doug Frater, 2007. Global Green Solutions Inc.

Technological gaps• Potential bioreactor growing designs

deemed to expensive• High harvesting and extraction costs• economics of product yield per capital cost• Robustness requirement• laboratory R&D system to an industrial

continuous large scale operating production facility

• Complex and time consuming algae analysis

Sustainable technology in Sustainable technology in Jatropha nurseryJatropha nursery

• A 8000 Ha. Jatropha plantation (20 A 8000 Ha. Jatropha plantation (20 Million plants) consumes 21840 Gcal if Million plants) consumes 21840 Gcal if conventional fertilizer is appliedconventional fertilizer is applied

• Now for the same plantation 4000 Now for the same plantation 4000 Million mycorrhiza propagules were Million mycorrhiza propagules were applied leading to a saving of 21.8 applied leading to a saving of 21.8 Million Rs (US$ 0.52 Million)Million Rs (US$ 0.52 Million)

Revenues from polluting chimney’ s at Korba

Corn cultivation in USAArea covered: 28.7 M ha

Fertilizer dose 168 Kg N, 57 Kg P2O5, 135 Kg K2O and 30 Kg Zn.

Energy requirement:30.4 GJ/t Urea, 30 GJ/t P and 10 GJ/t K10.4 MT Urea = 316 M GJ; 1.6 MT P = 48 M GJ; 3.9 MT K = 39 M GJTotal: 403 M GJ

If the fertilizer demand is brought down by 25% this will save ~100 M GJ energy per annum from corn cultivation.And reduce environmental footprint as well

Source: K.C. Das, University of Georgia

Source: K.C. Das, University of Georgia

Giovanni Riva, 2006. EUROPEAN CONFERENCE on BIOREFINERY RESEARCH

Way forwardWay forward• Country specific agenda for Country specific agenda for

technology and feedstock selectiontechnology and feedstock selection• Appropriate policy instruments to Appropriate policy instruments to

minimize food vs fuel conflicts and minimize food vs fuel conflicts and encourage public private partnershipencourage public private partnership

• Bottom up approach to achieve Bottom up approach to achieve inclusive growth in growing inclusive growth in growing economieseconomies

Thank you