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UltraTech Cement to Source Wind-Solar Hybrid Power from Clean Max

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					</table>The U.S. added 6.4 GW of small-scale solar capacity in 2022, which marks the highest annual growth ever recorded in the segment, according to a report by the <a href="https://www.eia.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Energy Information Administration</a>.
Small-scale solar, often referred to as distributed solar or rooftop solar, encompasses solar-power systems with a capacity of 1 MW or less. The majority of small-scale solar capacity in the U.S. resides atop residential buildings in the form of rooftop solar modules.
The report indicated that the journey began in 2014 when small-scale solar capacity in the country stood at a modest 7.3 GW. In 2022, the small-scale solar capacity has shot up to 39.5 GW, constituting nearly one-third of the total solar capacity.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-58570 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821.png" alt="" width="808" height="415" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821.png 808w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821-300x154.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821-768x394.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821-650x334.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821-624x320.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-171821-600x308.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px" />
Catalysts for Growth
Multiple factors have driven the expansion of small-scale solar capacity over the past decade. Tax credits, incentives, supportive public policies, and elevated retail electricity prices have provided fertile ground for this growth.
The decrease in the cost of solar modules has been equally significant, making renewable energy more accessible to the masses.
California has emerged as the leader in small-scale solar capacity, contributing 36% of the total. The state&#8217;s satisfactory sunshine, attractive incentives, and relatively high electricity prices have been pivotal in driving rooftop solar adoption.
California&#8217;s Net Energy Metering Program, which permits surplus electricity generated by rooftop solar panels to be fed back into the grid for credits, further incentivizes solar investments.
Starting in 2020, California mandated the installation of solar panels on newly constructed single-family homes and multifamily buildings up to three stories high.
Surprisingly, mid-Atlantic states with less year-round sunshine, namely New York and New Jersey, occupy the second and third positions in small-scale solar capacity. In recent years, sunny states like Texas and Arizona have been narrowing the gap.
The report noted the consistent and generous solar incentives offered by New York and New Jersey through longstanding state policies have been instrumental in fostering small-scale solar growth.
The EIA report said that it was essential to consider population-adjusted metrics to gain deeper insights into the prevalence of small-scale solar capacity within states. Although California boasts the highest overall small-scale solar capacity, it is Hawaii that leads in small-scale solar penetration, with 541W per capita.
Historically reliant on oil-fired power plants for a significant portion of its electricity, Hawaii faced high electricity bills due to expensive fuel imports.
However, as the costs of solar panels plummeted, many homes and businesses in Hawaii embraced solar energy. This transition not only reduced their electricity bills but also aligned with the state&#8217;s ambitious goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2045.
According to a previous <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-coal-capacity-fall-2050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by the EIA, the capacity of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. could reduce by ~88% from the 2022 levels by 2050 as environmental regulations raise costs and new plants powered by natural gas and renewable energy displace the aging fleet.
Earlier in March, EIA <a href="https://mercomindia.com/wind-solar-batteries-power-capacity-us-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that around 82% of the new utility-scale generating capacity planned to come online in the U.S. in 2023 will comprise wind, solar, and battery storage.

US Adds 6.4 GW of Small-Scale Solar Capacity in 2022: EIA Report

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					</table><a href="https://www.jsw.in/energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JSW Energy</a>, an independent power producer, reported a net profit of ₹2.9 billion (~$35.3 million), a decrease of 48% year-over-year (YoY) in the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year (FY) 2023-24, due to the lower realization in the thermal segment following a decline in coal prices.
The company’s total revenue declined by 3% YoY or ₹30.13 billion ($367 million).
The earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation (EBITDA) showed a notable 18% YoY increase, reaching ₹13.07 billion ($159.2 million) in the quarter, primarily driven by contributions from renewable energy assets.
In terms of operational performance, power generation showed a 14% year-on-year increase, reaching 6.7 billion units (BU), driven by new renewable energy capacities (including Mytrah) and higher generation at Ratnagiri, partially offset by lower generation at hydropower assets.
The net renewable generation experienced a substantial 35% YoY growth, amounting to 2.3 BU, due to the addition of renewable energy capacities.
A net long-term generation saw an 18% year-on-year rise on the back of increased electricity generation at Ratnagiri (Unit-1) and the addition of renewable energy capacities.
In March 2023, JSW Neo Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of JSW Energy, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jsw-energy-under-previously-agreed-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it would acquire Mytrah Energy’s 12 special-purpose vehicles.
JSW Energy possesses renewable assets with a total capacity of 5,912 MW. Among these assets, 3,509 MW are currently operational, while an additional 2,403 MW are under construction and yet to be commissioned.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-56437 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5.png" alt="" width="752" height="409" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5.png 752w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5-300x163.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5-650x354.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5-624x339.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-5-600x326.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
The company&#8217;s revenue for Q4 of FY23 <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/renewable-energy-jsws-q4-revenue-up-by-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> by 6% YoY to ₹28.06 billion (~$339.13 million) on the back of the increase in renewable capacity.
JSW Neo Energy was among the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jsw-greenko-win-karnatakas-1-gw-pumped-storage-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winners</a> in the Power Company of Karnataka’s auction to supply 1 GW of energy for 8 hours daily from pumped hydro storage projects providing continuous 5-hour discharge. It won 300 MW by quoting ₹14.75 million (~$178,661).

JSW Energy’s Net Profit in Q1 Slides 48% YoY on Thermal Segment Headwinds

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					</table>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://www.mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has unveiled a draft roadmap outlining the research and development (R&amp;D) priorities for manufacturing and storing green hydrogen. The roadmap aims to promote efficient, safe, and cost-effective hydrogen storage, paving the way for its widespread adoption as a clean energy source.
The key objectives include developing advanced storage methods, ensuring the durability and reliability of storage systems, and addressing safety concerns.
Efficient and Safe Storage Solutions
One of the primary goals of the roadmap is to develop storage methods that enable high-density hydrogen storage while reducing leakage and facilitating easy refueling.
The plan will focus on enhancing the long-term durability and reliability of hydrogen storage, transportation, and compression systems to encourage their widespread use.
The aim is to demonstrate distributed aboveground storage solutions with a capital cost lower than ₹30,000 (~$360)/kg by 2030.
Exploring Underground Storage
The roadmap also emphasizes research activities on underground storage to validate performance in different geological conditions, identify cost-effective materials, and encourage improved designs.
The objective is to demonstrate large-scale underground storage solutions across various mediums at a capital cost lower than ₹3,000 (~$36)/kg by 2030.
Indigenous Development and Materials Research
To promote self-reliance, the roadmap highlights the need for indigenous development of Type III and Type IV compressed hydrogen tanks and the synthesis of alloys or materials for solid-state hydrogen storage.
Researchers will focus on developing materials with high gravimetric capacity, faster kinetics, optimum operating conditions, low cost, and high cycle life. This involves exploring novel materials such as high surface area materials, complex or chemical hydrides, high entropy alloys, and composites.
Pilot Demonstrations for Various Applications
The roadmap underscores the importance of pilot-scale demonstrations for different stationary and vehicular applications.
This includes showcasing the use of solid-state hydrogen storage tanks for stationary applications like heating and cooling, hydrogen purification, thermal energy storage, and backup power.
Automobile sector
The ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in India’ program identified that road transportation in the country alone accounts for approximately 80% of energy consumption. The country  imports 85% of its crude oil to meet its energy demands, with the transportation sector contributing a significant portion of this.
As India&#8217;s economy grows, its primary energy consumption will increase by 70% in the next decade, leading to a widening gap between domestic crude oil production and consumption. This necessitates substantial investment in exploring, developing, and implementing alternative energy systems.
Electric vehicles, including battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, are considered the most prominent alternatives in the automotive sector.
While global efforts primarily focus on lithium-ion batteries, India faces limitations as it lacks significant lithium resources. Lithium-ion batteries tend to be bulky, which poses challenges for applications requiring long travel ranges. As a result, alternative battery technologies are being explored.
Fuel cells are considered a favorable alternative for applications where rapid refueling and extended travel ranges are essential, as the charging time for batteries can be significant.
In general, energy storage technologies such as advanced batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen fuel cells complement each other. Therefore, it is believed that a combination of hydrogen fuel cells, advanced batteries, and supercapacitors will be crucial technologies for India in the coming years.
Telecom Sector
Telecom towers in India consume approximately 2 billion liters of diesel annually, resulting in an import cost of around $1 billion and greenhouse gas emissions of 5 MTCO2e. With an estimated 650,000 towers in the country, about 85% require backup power due to unreliable grid supply, often relying on diesel generators.
To reduce their carbon footprint, tower companies are actively seeking cleaner alternatives.
Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (LT-PEM) fuel cells emerge as a promising solution. These fuel cells offer high energy density, reaching up to 3 kilowatts per liter, and can be scaled from a few watts to multiple megawatts. They operate silently, without vibrations, and are suitable for various stationary and automotive applications.
Using solid electrolyte membranes, LT-PEM fuel cells can utilize different fuel sources and ensure safety.
Deploying LT-PEM fuel cells to meet the backup power needs of telecom towers presents a valuable opportunity for implementing reliable and renewable energy solutions. By utilizing fuel cells, tower operators can reduce their reliance on traditional grid systems and diesel generators, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative for power generation.
Power Generation
Hydrogen is anticipated to play a significant role in a carbon-constrained future, with experts recognizing it as a leading contender for a clean energy source with diverse applications in the chemical, metal, and processing industries.
The energy sector, particularly the power industry and fuel cell vehicles in transportation, holds potential as the main commercial utilization areas for hydrogen globally.
Ammonia has gained attention as a promising solution, as it liquefies at -33 ºC at atmospheric pressure and has an energy density superior to liquid hydrogen.
Ammonia can serve as a cost-effective and practically feasible hydrogen carrier due to existing infrastructure in the fertilizer industry.
Research is needed to substitute or generate hydrogen from ammonia just before its utilization to fully utilize ammonia as an energy vector. This could be achieved by efficiently decomposing ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen, enabling its use in gas turbine combustors, solid oxide fuel cells, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
The energy sector is a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions, and employing hydrogen as a clean fuel in gas turbine power plants can help address this environmental challenge.
Utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier in such applications presents a practical method for widespread hydrogen use. Patents and engineering solutions have emerged to use ammonia in gas turbine power plants, including developing coupled combustor-heat exchanger systems.
Further investigation is needed to determine the compatibility of existing industrial natural gas combustors with hydrogen combustion, and successful demonstrations of these concepts in real-world scenarios can lead to substantial growth in hydrogen utilization, reducing global CO2 emissions.
Industrial applications
Currently, most hydrogen is used as a molecule in chemical processes, making sectors like ammonia synthesis and desulfurization the most suitable for adopting green hydrogen.
For catalytic synthesis processes, stringent quality standards need to be established.
Sectors where hydrogen is used as a reducing agent in industries such as steel and cement, can be more flexible, and initial focus should be placed on these sectors.
To promote the adoption of green hydrogen, it is essential to mandate guaranteed uptake of green hydrogen to offset a portion of grey hydrogen used in conventional industrial processes.
Co-locating green hydrogen generation plants with high-consumption sites would minimize transportation costs. Viability gap funding may be necessary initially to address potential challenges associated with blending and utilizing green hydrogen alongside grey hydrogen, ensuring economies of scale.
Establishing and publishing industry-specific standards for hydrogen quality is crucial for producers to meet desired specifications. Given that the end technology for green hydrogen utilization is already at a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL 9), more than 75% of the generated green hydrogen should be directed toward the abovementioned sectors by 2025-27.
Approximately 50% can be allocated to the steel and cement sector, while the remaining 25% can be directed to sectors where hydrogen is used as a molecule.
Research and development modes 
The roadmap has proposed three key approaches for promoting R&amp;D &#8211; mission mode, grand challenge projects, and blue sky projects.
The Mission Mode Projects in the green hydrogen sector aim to address key research and development priorities with a short-term impact horizon of 0 to 5 years. These projects focus on early-stage research and actions that can lead to significant technological advancements. Under the approach, low-cost electrode development for reduced cost, improved performance, and increased durability of PEM electrolyzers would be developed along with the development of feedstock agnostic biomass gasification technology for hydrogen production, among others.
The Grand Challenge Projects in the field of green hydrogen aim to address key research and development priorities with a mid-term impact horizon of 0 to 8 years. These projects are focused on driving innovation, encouraging the growth of start-ups and industries, and advancing the green hydrogen ecosystem in India. It would include power-to-gas technology development with SOEC, demonstration of biomass gasification-based hydrogen generation, and development of integrated net carbon-negative solutions for hydrogen production cost-effectively through indigenous technologies.
Blue Sky Projects encompass long-term research and development initiatives with a 0 to 15 years horizon. These projects focus on establishing global intellectual property and a competitive advantage for the Indian industry in hydrogen and fuel cells.
R&amp;D for seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production, photoelectrochemical water splitting, thermochemical water splitting, and integration with nuclear and technology for waste to hydrogen would be developed.
MNRE recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ministry-175-billion-program-green-hydrogen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a framework document outlining incentive programs for the manufacturing of electrolyzers and the production of green hydrogen within the country, with a combined financial outlay of ₹174.9 billion (~$2.1 billion).
Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates </a>to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

Government Unveils Draft R&D Roadmap for India‘s Green Hydrogen Ecosystem

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					</table>Union Minister of Renewable Energy and Power R. K. Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that the government aims to reduce a total of ₹1 trillion (~$12 billion) worth of fossil fuel imports by 2030, following the targets set under the National Green Hydrogen mission.
The minister said nearly 50 million metric tons of carbon emissions are likely to be mitigated through the production and use of green hydrogen.
In January this year, the Union Cabinet <a href="https://mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-%e2%82%b9197-billion-hydrogen-mission/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of ₹197.4 billion (~$2.3 billion).
Singh said the government would support the infrastructural development of electrolyzers to accelerate green hydrogen production.
He said the government would facilitate the demand creation of green hydrogen by encouraging exports and domestic utilization.
The minister added that the government has initiated efforts to launch green hydrogen pilot projects in the steel, mobility, and shipping sectors.
Recently, Union Minister for Ports and Shipping Sarabananda Sonowal said two ports on India’s east coast and one port on the west coast would be <a href="https://mercomindia.com/shipping-ministry-develop-ports-as-hydrogen-hubs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways as hydrogen hubs as part of the Green Shipping Initiative.
Earlier this year, Singh <a href="https://mercomindia.com/green-hydrogen-governments-renewable-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> green hydrogen will play a central role in the country’s target to reach 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and in developing energy storage solutions that could potentially replace lithium-ion-based batteries.
The hydrogen mission also intends to pave the way for the government to form partnerships with international research institutes to explore green hydrogen production opportunities.
Last month, the Department of Science and Technology (<a href="https://dst.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DST</a>) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-to-partner-with-fraunhofer-hydrogen-tech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a letter of intent with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems for a long-term collaboration focused on hydrogen and other clean technologies.
DST will provide the framework for cooperation in the hydrogen valley cluster projects, support activities, and facilitate resources. Fraunhofer will act as a technology partner for the hydrogen valley or cluster, providing information and access to technologies and scientific and technical experts.

Green Hydrogen Can Help India Save ₹1 Trillion on Fuel Imports by 2030

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					</table><a href="https://www.iitr.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Roorkee</a> startup <a href="https://indienergy.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indi Energy</a>, which specializes in manufacturing indigenous sodium-ion batteries, has been accorded the National Startup Award 2022 in the Energy Storage category by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry&#8217;s initiative <a href="https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/nsa2022.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Startup India</a>.
The award honors businesses that offer innovative and ground-breaking solutions that encourage India’s sustainable economic development and provide employment opportunities.
Indi Energy, founded in 2019, is India’s first company to successfully develop an indigenous sodium-ion cell using bio-waste-derived commercial hard carbon and indigenously developed cathode.
The company&#8217;s sodium-ion batteries are said to have a high energy density, low cost, and high safety, making them a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries.
The company aims to provide affordable and reliable energy storage solutions for a wide range of applications, including electric vehicles, grid storage, and portable electronics.
The company said it is trying to empower the nation with its indigenously developed battery, including its components, to make India self-reliant.
&#8220;We are proud to be leading the way in the development of sodium-ion batteries in India. This award is a step towards our goal of making India’s energy independent and self-reliant in sustainable energy storage solutions,” Yogesh Kumar Sharma, Co-Founder at Indi Energy, said.
&#8220;This award is a true recognition of our team&#8217;s hard work, dedication, and passion for creating sustainable and innovative energy solutions for India and the world,&#8221; Akash Soni, Co-Founder, and CEO of Indi Energy, said.
In recognition of the achievement, the certificate of commendation was presented by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industries.
The institute recently launched a program to support faculty-led startups aimed at the commercialization of technologies.
The support is provided for prototyping, pilot testing, and marketing expenses.
IIT Roorkee is supporting 130-plus startups through TIDES (Technology Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Society) and I-Hub Divyasampark.
Both units facilitate the incubation of new enterprises with innovative technologies by admitting them to their Incubation Centre and providing physical, technical, financial, and networking support and services.
In December 2022, researchers from the institute said they had successfully <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-roorkee-claim-17-efficiency-perovskite-solar-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a prototype of a low-cost, high-quality perovskite solar cell that achieved a stable power conversion efficiency of 17.05%.
In the same month, researchers from IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with the University of Lisbon, Portugal, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/iit-researchers-discover-enzyme-that-bioethanol-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> a bacterial endoglucanase enzyme capable of breaking down biomatter into simple sugar and bioethanol — a promising renewable fuel that can replace petroleum-based fuel systems.

IIT-backed Startup Wins National Award for Innovation in Energy Storage

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					</table>The Ministry Of Petroleum And Natural Gas (<a href="http://petroleum.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MoP&amp;NG</a>) has notified that oil companies will sell ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) with a percentage of ethanol up to 20% from April 1, 2023.
A target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol is proposed by Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. An indicative target of 5% biodiesel blending in diesel is proposed by 2030.
The ministry hopes to achieve this target by reinforcing ongoing ethanol or biodiesel supplies by increasing domestic production by setting up second-generation biorefineries, developing new feedstock for biofuels, and new technologies for conversion to biofuels. It aims to create a suitable environment for biofuels’ integration with primary fuels.
The policy encourages augmenting indigenous feedstock supplies for biofuel production by utilizing the wastelands for feedstock generation. However, depending upon the availability of domestic feedstock and blending requirements, the import of feedstock for biodiesel production would be permitted. The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) proposed under this policy will decide feedstock import requirements.
To promote the production of biofuels by units located in special economic zones or export-oriented units, the import of feedstock for the production of biofuels meant for export by them will be allowed without any restriction.
Advanced biofuels
Advanced biofuels are produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks (agricultural and forestry residues), non-food energy crops (grasses, algae), animal dung or industrial waste and residue streams, or any mixed combination of the above feedstock. Fuels such as second-generation ethanol, biodiesel made from used cooking oil, non-edible tree-borne oils, short gestation non-edible oil-rich crops, green diesel from renewable sources and industrial waste, and biofuels produced from synthesis gas are also considered advanced biofuels.
Advanced biofuels can also be drop-in fuels from renewable sources and industrial waste, algae-based biofuels, halophytes-based biofuels, bio-CNG, bio-methanol, and Di Methyl Ether derived from bio-methanol.
Export of biofuels
As the domestic biofuel availability is much lower than the country‘s requirement, the export of biofuels will generally not be permitted. However, export may be permitted when there is a surplus, or the domestic requirement has been met. Biofuels can also be exported if the price of biofuels made from domestic feedstocks for the domestic market becomes high due to increased domestic feedstock prices, resulting in poor domestic sales.
Earlier, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-oil-companies-sign-agreement-petrol-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a long-term purchase agreement for upcoming dedicated ethanol plants across India. Oil companies, project proponents, and banks signed the first Tripartite-cum-Escrow Agreement. State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, and Indian Bank are part of the tripartite agreement with oil companies and project proponents.
The agreement is designed to ensure that payment received by ethanol plants is utilized to service the debt extended by these banks. Ethanol produced by these plants will be sold to oil companies for blending with petrol as per the government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Program.
In March 2021, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)  <a href="https://mercomindia.com/government-approves-ethanol-gasoline-automotive-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenlighted</a> using a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline as an automotive fuel.

Oil Companies to Sell Petrol With 20% Ethanol From April 2023: Petroleum Ministry

A joint team of researchers from India and Wales, led by <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Swansea University</a> researchers, said they were developing a  new process to convert hazardous medical waste into clean hydrogen fuel.
The researchers stated the National Health Service of the United Kingdom spends £700 million (~$ 922.08 million) annually for disposing of medical waste. Besides that, a vast amount of additional medical waste, including masks and other protective equipment, is being created due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they added.
The researchers are developing a process called photoreforming, which utilizes sunlight to kill viruses and turn non-recyclable waste into clean hydrogen fuel simultaneously. Also, photoreforming does not generate greenhouse gases and works at ambient temperature.
The researchers used nanostructured semiconductors to drive the degradation of waste and pathogens with sunlight. The process also produces hydrogen fuel cell and generates organic feedstock for the chemical industry, they added.
“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed a global surge in single-use medical waste and PPE polluting the environment such as disposable face masks littering beaches. Applying our technology to reprocess just 1% of this waste would save millions and mitigate pollution at the same time,” said lead researcher Moritz Kuehnel.
The team of researchers includes epidemiology experts from India’s <a href="http://www.kipmr.org.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">King Institute of Preventive Medicine &amp; Research</a> and <a href="https://www.tvu.edu.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thiruvalluvar University</a>. The epidemiology experts help examine the photocatalysts’ antiviral activity against various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19.
“The simplicity and low cost of photoreforming make it easier to implement in countries that do not have an established recycling system,” said co-researcher Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu.
According to its press statement, the Welsh Government recently awarded funding worth £47,000 (~$ 62,156) for the project.
The new research is built on the team’s previous work on generating hydrogen from waste plastic. The researchers are looking for industry partners to commercialize their newly developed technology.
In September 2020, a research team from Newcastle University in New South Wales, Australia, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/australian-researchers-create-green-hydrogen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">devised</a> a system that uses solar power to conduct electrolysis on water harvested from air to create hydrogen, a low-cost zero-emission fuel.
Earlier this year, researchers at Rutgers University <a href="https://mercomindia.com/new-method-produce-ethanol-plant-waste-low-cost/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">discovered</a> a new process that could significantly reduce the cost of producing biofuels like ethanol from plant waste.

This Process Uses Sunlight to Turn Hazardous Medical Waste into Clean Hydrogen Fuel

A new process that could significantly reduce the cost of producing biofuels like ethanol from plant waste has been discovered by researchers at <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rutgers University in New Brunswick</a>, New Jersey.
According to the Green Chemistry Journal, this approach featured an ammonia-salt based solvent, used to turn plant fibers into sugars needed to make ethanol, and works well at close to room temperatures, unlike conventional processes, according to the study.
“Our pre-treatment system can slash – by up to 50-fold – the use of enzymes to turn solvent-treated cellulose (plant fiber) into glucose (a sugar) used to make bioproducts like ethanol,” said lead author Shishir P. S. Chundawat, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering in the School of Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
“Similar processes could greatly reduce the cost of producing biofuels from waste biomass like corn stalks and leaves,” he added.
The study also said that this solvent could also extract more than 80% of the Ligin in plant waste. Ligin binds to plant fibers and strengthens them. This could be used to help upgrade valuable aromatic chemicals in the future, according to Chundawat.
According to Chundawat, the next step would be to optimize the pre-treatment process for biomass like corn stover (corn stalks, leaves, and other residues), municipal solid waste and bioenergy crops like switchgrass and poplar that could be turned into fuels, while also developing more robust enzymes to reduce costs further.
This development could be used to speed up the shift away from fossil fuels by boosting ethanol production. Ethanol is a cleaner alternative to fossil-based fuels that is manufactured from the conversion of carbon-based feedstocks such as sugarcane, switchgrass, corn, and barley.
Previously, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs <a href="https://mercomindia.com/govt-fuel-guidelines-promote-biofuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved</a> the review of guidelines for granting authorization to market transportation fuels. This move marks a significant shift on the part of the government in framing the guidelines for the marketing of petrol and diesel and encourage the use of alternative fuels.
More recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-seeks-bidders-for-an-evaluation-study-of-its-biogas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> an expression of interest for an independent third-party evaluation study of its biogas-based power generation (off-grid) and thermal energy applications program.
The government has been making the right moves to foster the growth of biofuels, and in August 2019, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan <a href="https://mercomindia.com/oil-firms-float-eoi-biodiesel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">released</a> an Expression of Interest floated by big national oil marketing companies like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum, for the procurement of biodiesel made from used cooking oil.

New Method Could Produce Ethanol From Plant Waste at a Low Cost

The first biofuel-based flight in India successfully completed its journey from Dehradun to Delhi. India-based flight operator SpiceJet operated the test flight powered by biojet fuel, marking a new chapter in the fast-growing domestic aviation sector.
This is a welcome news for India’s beleaguered aviation sector in which domestic airlines are facing an existential crisis in face of increasing fuel prices. This is the first successful test, and it will take many more to mark a shift in the prevalent fuel trends.
Per a report by Press Trust of India (PTI) which quoted a Spicejet official, the nearly 45-minute flight from Dehradun to the national capital was operated with a Bombardier Q400 aircraft, partially powered by biojet fuel made from Jatropha plant. With the test flight, India has become one of the few countries and probably the first among the developing nations to use biofuel for flying planes.
According to PTI, the test flight carried 28 people, including five crew members. Among others, officials from aviation regulator DGCA, SpiceJet and the IIP were in the test flight, which was flagged off by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at Dehradun.
The aircraft&#8217;s right engine was filled with 75 percent aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and 25 percent of biojet fuel. The fuel was prepared by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun. The institute&#8217;s Director Anjan Ray said around 330 kg of biojet fuel was made for the little over 40-minute flight, per the PTI report.
Biojet fuel is low cost and helps in significantly reducing carbon emissions. &#8220;It has the potential to reduce our dependence on traditional aviation fuel by up to 50 percent on every flight and bring down fares,&#8221; Ajay Singh said.
The biojet fuel has been recognized by American Standard Testing Method (ASTM) and meets the specification standards of Pratt &amp; Whitney and Bombardier for commercial application in aircraft.
Noting that it was a &#8220;historic occasion&#8221; to operate the test flight, SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said India is the first among developing countries to fly flight powered by biojet fuel.
Per SpiceJet, the advantage of using biojet fuel as compared to ATF is that it reduces carbon emissions and enhances fuel efficiency. At a function to mark the successful operation of the test flight, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said efforts are on to have a consumer-friendly, affordable and environment-friendly aviation sector.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari added that the government plans to come out with a &#8220;special policy&#8221; for use of biofuel in the aviation sector.
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan also commented on this feat saying that biojet fuel is carbon neutral and that only &#8220;three to four nations are using biojet fuel&#8221;. He also emphasized that ways should be explored to scale up production of such fuels.
All the ministers opined that increased use of biofuels would also benefit farmers and also help in reducing oil import bill.
Mercom Analysis
In a country like India, where the overall economic growth is fueled by its agrarian sector, biofuels assume great significance in light of the country’s ambitious goals of doubling farmers’ income, import reduction, employment generation, and waste-to-wealth creation. Acknowledging the importance of abundant resources for biofuel in the country,  the union cabinet recently approved the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-national-policy-biofuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Policy on Biofuels 2018</a>.
Aviation industry could generate demand of biofuels and encourage Indian farmers to indulge in cultivation of crops such as Jatropha. In an <a href="https://mercomindia.com/interview-biofuel-sector-growth-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Mercom</a>, Charmaine Fernandes Sharma, the co-founder of <a href="http://www.observingi.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Observing I</a> had said, “It is not always incentives, but just the creation of a well-defined value chain that will attract entrepreneurial activity and investment in this sector.”

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