E20 Fuel Series: What exactly is clean fuel and why is it called ethanol? Explained | Today’s news
One of the key reasons India is pushing ethanol fuel, or E20 (a mixture of 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline), is that it is considered a high-performance, clean fuel. The Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Friday (July 10) that gasoline blended with 20 percent ethanol (E20) is a “cleaner, better quality and more efficient fuel” than E10 or pure gasoline.
E20 gasoline is actually an environmentally friendly fuel. In a major move under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program, India has moved to a nationwide mandate requiring all petrol pumps to stock and supply E20 fuel as standard fuel.
Countries including Canada, Thailand and several European countries have also adopted ethanol blending as part of their clean fuel strategies.
But what exactly is clean fuel?
Clean fuels are fuels that produce much lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fuels on a life cycle basis.
Also, any renewable substance that can be used as a fuel other than conventional fossil fuels is known as an alternative or clean fuel, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
They have the potential to contribute to its decarbonisation and improve the environmental performance of the transport sector, the ministry said.
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Clean fuels play an important role in clean energy initiatives around the world. It causes little or no pollution or is not otherwise harmful to health.
The the US government argues that clean fuels for cars and trucks can do more for air quality, sooner than any other alternative on the drawing boards today.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, there are some known fuels that can be used as Clean fuels for vehicles are:
- Biodiesel
- Hydrogen
- Electricity (e.g. plug-in technology including hybrid and all batteries)
- Ethanol
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Liquefied petroleum gas (e.g. LPG or propane)
- Natural gas (e.g. compressed natural gas or CNG)
The organization said clean fuel vehicles are more attractive than conventional vehicles because they have lower tailpipe emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sodium oxides (SOx) and fine particles. They also provide better fuel economy.
Clean fuel refers to sustainable and environmentally friendly fuels that provide a zero-carbon journey.
Why is E20 called a cleaner fuel?
E20 fuels produce negligible particulate emissions and substantially reduce life cycle carbon emissions by approximately 40 percent. government he says.
It reduces fossil fuel consumption and reduces harmful carbon emissions that contribute to climate change and public health problems.
Ethanol also helps reduce emissions of air toxics, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and exhaust hydrocarbons.
Read also | Why can’t you choose between pure gasoline, E10 and E20? The center explains
“Ethanol burns cleaner than petrol, resulting in lower carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbon (HC) emissions,” explained Maruti Suzuki on its website.
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, Ethanol reduces carbon emissions and “takes the carbon equivalent of 12 million cars off the road each year.”
The organization adds that using ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 44-52 percent compared to gasoline, even when hypothetical emissions from land-use changes are included.
Read also | Why can’t you choose between pure gasoline, E10 and E20? The center explains
In addition, ethanol is produced from a variety of raw materials, such as sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice and corn, the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas says.
The US Department of Energy also states that ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and other plant materials.
Furthermore, ethanol biorefineries produce more than just fuel; they also produce highly nutritious animal feed, such as grain for distillers, the association said.
Ethanol is generally believed to be more affordable than traditional gasoline/gasoline. However, the Indian government said on July 5 that the cost of buying ethanol has since risen above the cost of refined gasoline.
Ethanol Benefits: Key Takeaways
1. Fuel consumption and performance: The impact on fuel consumption varies depending on the energy difference in the mixture used, the US Department of Energy explains. The impact on fuel consumption decreases with decreasing ethanol content. He adds that ethanol affects fuel consumption in part because flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are optimized for gasoline.
If they were optimized to run on a higher ethanol blend, fuel consumption would likely increase due to increased engine efficiency.
Read also | E20 Gasoline: Center Says Possible 3-5% Mileage Drop, Denies Engine Damage Claims
2. Higher octane number: Ethanol also has a higher octane rating than gasoline, providing increased performance and power.
3. Work impacts: Ethanol production and use are consistent with national goals such as job creation. Ethanol production is also believed to create jobs in rural areas where employment opportunities are needed.
4. Energy security, reducing dependence on imported fuel: Ethanol as a domestically produced biofuel offers a strategic opportunity to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
5. Cleaner engine performance: Ensures better combustion, resulting in reduced carbon deposits, cleaner engine components and potentially longer engine life.
