Alternative fuels for decarbonisation of road transport sector in India: Options, present status, opportunities, and challenges. (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nouni, M.R.; Jha, Prakash; Sarkhel, Rudranath; Banerjee, Chandan; Tripathi, Arun K.; Manna, Joydev
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 305(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: Alternative fuels -- Biofuels -- Compressed natural gas -- Compressed biogas -- Decarbonisation -- Electric mobility -- Hydrogen -- Methanol -- Cost of ownership; ₹ Indian Rupee -- 2G Second Generation -- 4W Four Wheeled -- B5 5% Biodiesel Blended Diesel -- BL Billion Litres -- BS-IV Bharat Stage Emission Standard 4 -- CAGR Compound Annual Growth Rate -- CBG Compressed Biogas -- CI Compression Ignition -- CNG Compressed Natural Gas -- CO Carbon Monoxide -- CO2 Carbon Dioxide -- E0 0% Ethanol Blended Petrol -- E5 5% Ethanol Blended Petrol -- E20 20% Ethanol Blended Petrol -- E100 100% Ethanol -- EV Electric Vehicle -- FAMHEV Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles -- FC Fuel Cell -- FCV Fuel Cell Vehicle -- GDP Gross Domestic Product -- GHG Greenhouse Gases -- GoI Government of India -- Gt Giga tonnes -- GW Giga Watt -- H-CNG Hydrogen-Compressed Natural Gas -- HEFA Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids -- HFV Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicle -- HGU Hydrogen Generation Unit -- HICE Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine -- HRS Hydrogen Refuelling Station -- HVO Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil -- ICE Internal Combustion Engine -- IEA International Energy Agency -- IITD Indian Institute of Technology Delhi -- IOCL Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. -- LCV Light Commercial Vehicle -- LIB Lithium Ion Battery -- LMV Light Motor Vehicle -- LNG Liquefied Natural Gas -- LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas -- M15 15% Methanol Blended Petrol -- M&M Mahindra & Mahindra -- MMSCM Million Metric Standard Cubic Metre -- MMSCMD Million Metric Standard Cubic Metre per Day -- MNRE Ministry of New and Renewable Energy -- MT Million Tonnes -- MTA Million Tonnes per Annum -- Mtoe Million tonnes of oil equivalent -- NBEM National Board of Electric Mobility -- NBP National Biofuel Policy -- NG Natural Gas -- NHER National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap -- NISE National Institute of Solar Energy -- NITI National Institution for Transforming India -- NMEM National Mission on Electric Mobility -- NEMMP National Electric Mobility Mission Plan -- NOx Oxides of Nitrogen -- NPB National Policy on Biofuels -- NTPC National Thermal Power Corporation -- O&M Operation and Maintenance -- PM Particulate Matter -- R&D Research and Development -- SATAT Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation -- SCI Supreme Court of India -- SI Spark Ignition -- SIAM Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers -- SOx Oxides of Sulphur -- TML Tata Motors Limited -- UCO Used Cooking Oil -- UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organisation; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121583
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: India's road transport sector heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. Consequently, energy security, economy and environment are adversely impacted. Biofuels, CNG, CBG, LPG, methanol, electricity, and hydrogen are preferred alternative options. Policy supports for development of these alternative fuels are discussed. Opportunities and challenges for growth of these fuels are also analysed. Abstract: Rapid economic development and increasing population are contributing to growing energy demand in India. Road transport sector, almost fully dependent on petroleum oil, is the third highest user of the total final energy in India. More than four-fifth of crude petroleum is imported, which is responsible for nearly one-fifth of country's import bill. India's share of the global energy related CO2 emissions was about 7% in 2018, of which about 13% was caused by the transport sector. With a view of decarbonising the road transport sector and also addressing issues concerning energy efficiency, energy security, air quality and transport induced noise, alternative fuels have been explored in India for about two decades. This paper reviews policy support and related developments regarding biofuels, compressed natural gas, methanol, electricity, and hydrogen for automotive applications in India with a brief mention about international progress. The opportunities for their growth by 2030 and challenges to realise the potential are also analysed. Biofuels and electricity can offer significant opportunities for decarbonising the road transport sector in the near term. Compressed natural gas in short term and hydrogen in medium and long term may also play important roles in this regard.