Fuel ethanol is a biofuel produced from renewable sources such as maize, sugarcane, or other plant components. It can be used as a gasoline alternative and blended with gasoline to make a fuel that burns cleaner and emits less greenhouse gases. Rise in government policies and initiatives encouraging green energy and advanced technology for economically extracting ethanol from non-food crops drives the growth of the global fuel ethanol market. In addition, the growth of the automotive industry and the rising awareness of the environmental impacts of fossil fuels are expected to drive the fuel ethanol market.
As per the recent report published by Allied Market Research, the global fuel ethanol market is estimated to witness the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast timeframe. The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for fuel ethanol due to the availability of major agricultural sectors and government measures to promote the use of biofuels.
“Up to 20 Percent Ethanol Blend Allowed in Gasoline”: PM Modi at India Energy Week On February 06, 2023, At the India Energy Week in Bengaluru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced petrol containing 20% ethanol, often known as E20. This initiative has proven as a historic green initiative to assist the country in reducing carbon emissions. The Indian government is encouraging advanced biofuel projects under the scheme “Pradhan Mantri Jivan Yojana” with financial assistance.
According to the report by NITI Aayog Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas planned to introduce ethanol-blend gasoline. The first phase will cover 15 cities, while the second will cover the entire country over the next two years. E20 will be accessible at 84 petrol pumps operated by three state-owned fuel suppliers across 11 states and union territories. India intends to form an international biofuel alliance during its G20 leadership. Yeast creates a lot of heat during industrial fermentation due to regular metabolism. In the absence of cooling — particularly during the summer months when chiller performance is lower — the fermentation process of yeast suffers greatly, resulting in lesser ethanol production. As part of its expanding Kemin Bio Solutions portfolio, Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturing company, recently announced FermSAVER™, a tea-extract product used during yeast fermentation for the ethanol manufacturing processes.
FermSAVER™ was invented to minimize stress in yeast when it is exposed to excessive heat. It can reduce the stress experienced by yeast during high-temperature intervals, resulting in higher ethanol output.
Here are some of the recent trends in the fuel ethanol market:
1. Increased use of biorefineries: The usage of biorefineries to create fuel ethanol is becoming more prevalent since they can produce many outputs from a single feedstock. This is expected to increase efficiency and sustainability in the fuel ethanol sector.
2. Increasing investments in research and development: Many businesses are investing in R&D to increase the efficiency of fuel ethanol production methods and lower production costs. This is expected to result in the development of new and novel biofuel technologies in the coming years.
3. Rising demand for low-carbon fuels: With increased concerns about climate change, there is a greater demand for low-carbon fuels such as ethanol. This demand has resulted in the global expansion of the fuel ethanol market.
4. Technological advancements: There have been several technological advancements in fuel ethanol production, such as an improved fermentation process, the use of advanced enzymes, and the development of new feedstocks. These key advancements have resulted in reduced production costs and increased efficiency.
5. Government support: Many governments are promoting the use of biofuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the expansion of the fuel ethanol sector through various programs such as subsidies and tax incentives.
Another trending technology in the fuel ethanol sector is ETJ processing (ethanol-to-jet), which enables manufacturers to convert corn, cellulosic ethanol, and sugar into SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel). Honeywell declared the launch of this technology in December 2022. This method uses heat management capabilities and high-performance catalysts to optimize production efficiency, resulting in an affordable, lower carbon density aviation fuel.
In conclusion, the fuel ethanol market is expanding rapidly and is estimated to reach an even higher level in the coming years as leading manufacturers are implementing prominent growth strategies such as collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships for the biofuel commercialization.
Author’s Bio- Gayatri Mohite is an emerging author who loves to explore new things. An addiction to reading motivates her to write. She also loves to sing, travel, and cook. A fresher who is constantly upgrading her skills has embarked on a new journey to touch up her expertise even more.
