Used cooking oil over ethanol: Govt’s new route to 5% biodiesel blending
India’s government had aimed to achieve 5% biodiesel blending in diesel by 2030 using ethanol. However, due to inconsistent ethanol production, the plan has been shelved. Officials are now focusing on expanding the repurposed used cooking oil (Ruco) initiative, which began in 2019. Biodiesel, commonly made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled grease, faces challenges in large-scale adoption in India due to limited production and infrastructure constraints.
The government had been planning to use ethanol to meet its target of blending 5 per cent biodiesel in diesel sales by 2030, but the volatility in ethanol production volumes has forced it to shelve the plan, officials said. Instead, it is now focusing on used cooking oil (Uco), with plans to expand the repurpose used cooking oil (Ruco) initiative launched in 2019, officials said.
Widely used in Europe, biodiesel refers to biodegradable fuel traditionally manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. However, large-scale blending has faced multiple hurdles in India due to the limited
