World Biofuel Day is commemorated on 10 August every year to raise awareness about the use of non-fossil fuel as an alternative to conventional fossil fuel. Any fuel that is derived from the biomass, like plants, agricultural wastes, crops, algae, or animal wastes, is known as biofuel.

World Biofuel Day is celebrated to honour Sir Rudolf Diesel. As the name suggests, he was the one who invented the diesel engine. And he was the first one to predict the use of
vegetable oils as an alternative to fossil fuel with an experiment. He was the first one to
run a mechanical engine with peanut oil. To mark this marvelous experiment, World Biofuel Day is celebrated.

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The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 emphasises active promotion of advanced bio-fuels, including CBG. The Government of India had launched the GOBAR-DHAN (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources) scheme to convert cattle dung and solid waste in farms to CBG and compost. The scheme proposes to cover 700 projects across the country in 2018-19. 

               
The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 specifically promotes advanced biofuels to achieve a target of 20% blending of biofuels with fossil-based fuels by 2030. The central government announced advancing the target date for achieving 20 per cent ethanol-blending with petrol by two years. According to government notification, the increased ethanol blending will be applicable from April 2023.

Up to 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route for renewable energy generation and distribution projects subject to provisions of The Electricity Act, 2003.

Indian bio-jet fuel can be produced from used cooking oil, tree-borne oils, short gestation oilseed crops grown off-season by farmers, and waste extract from edible oil processing units. It will reduce air pollution by virtue of its ultra low sulphur content compared with conventional jet fuel and contribute to India’s Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. It will also enhance the livelihoods of farmers and tribals engaged in producing, collecting, and extracting non-edible oils.

Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called “biofuels,” to help meet transportation fuel needs. Biofuels are renewable transportation fuels produced from biomass —fuels produced from renewable organic material—

First-generation biofuels are made from sugar crops (sugarcane, sugarbeet), starch crops (corn, sorghum), oilseed crops (soybean, canola), and animal fats. Sugar and starch crops are converted through a fermentation process to form bio alcohols, including ethanol, butanol, and propanol. Oils and animal fats can be processed into biodiesel. Ethanol is the most widely used bio alcohol fuel. Most vehicles can use gasoline-ethanol blends containing up to 10 percent ethanol (by volume).

Second-generation biofuels, or cellulosic biofuels, are made from cellulose, which is available from non-food crops and waste biomass such as corn stover, corncobs, straw, wood, and wood byproducts. Third-generation biofuels use algae as a feedstock.

Up to 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route for renewable energy generation and distribution projects subject to provisions of The Electricity Act, 2003.

        
     As of 31 March 2021, the total installed capacity for Renewables is 92+ GW with the following break up:

• Wind power: 39.24 GW
• Solar Power: 40 GW
• BioPower: 10.31 GW
• Small Hydro Power: 4.79 GW 

The Union Cabinet had given its approval to introduce the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in High Efficiency Solar PV Modules for Enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports.