Sugarcane shortage and its implications on India’s renewable energy target of ethanol blending
Amid mounting concerns over climate change, there has been a heightened global emphasis on adopting clean energy sources. The most common renewable energy sources currently adopted worldwide include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biofuels. Solar and wind account for over 70 per cent of the total installed capacity of renewable energy globally. However, there has been a significant push for other sources, particularly biofuels.
In line with the global trend, the Indian government has taken several initiatives to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the country’s total energy consumption. India aims to have 50 per cent of its total installed power capacity coming from non-fossil-fuel-based sources by 2030. Renewable energy (excluding hydro) accounts for only around 2 per cent of the total energy supply and approximately 12 per cent of the total electricity generation. Solar and wind make up more than 95 per cent of renewable sources, while other sources like biofuel (including ethanol) contribute less than 1 per cent.
