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Methanol-blending in petrol reduces carbon dioxide emission: ARAI study
Important Facts:
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) study observation:
- Methanol (M-15) blended with petrol used in BS IV cars lead to reduced CO2 emission in real world condition
Significance of Study :
- Provide evidence based alternative fuel option to India’s huge crude oil import worth 7 Lakh Crore per year
- Base for Indigenous pollution-free technology to substitute import and save money
- Adopting methanol in this scale would bring down pollution in country by more than 40%
- India’s can have its own Indigenous fuels at cost about 19/liter which would be about 30% cheaper than any available fuel
Why Methanol?:
- Methanol can be produced from Natural Gas, Indian High Ash Coal, Bio-mass, MSW, stranded and flared gases
- Methanol is a clean burning fuel which can replace both petrol & diesel in transportation, LPG
- Methanol burns efficiently producing no particulate matter and almost nil (SO)x and (NO)X emissions
Niti Aayog Road Map for Methanol Blending:
- NITI Aayog has drawn comprehensive plan to replace 20% of crude import from methanol
- Production of methanol from Indian high ash coal from indigenous technology would reduce CO2 emission and meet Paris Agreement target of CO2 sequestration (2.5-3bn tonne)
- Almost 40% of Methanol Production can be produced through bio-mass, stranded gas and municipal solid waste
Government Efforts:
- Government aims to increase fuel blending to 20% by 2030
- Ensured assistance in all research efforts in methanol blending
- Government has commissioned Scania buses running on 100% bio-ethanol
