Top 10 Best Biofuel Manufacturing Companies In India 2023
The principal energy sources derived from biomass and food crops like sunflower seeds, palm fruit, Jatropha seeds, rapeseed, soybean, etc. are designated as biofuels. These energy sources have huge promise in a rising country like India. India has an annual biomass supply of about 500 million tonnes, of which 120 to 150 million tonnes are excess.
Furthermore, biofuels alone are responsible for 12.83 per cent of the world’s renewable energy production. Additionally, greater conversion efficiency and cheaper prices are the main forces for the extraction of bioenergy. Energy security, less reliance on imports, a cleaner environment, better municipal solid waste (MSW) management, improved health outcomes, infrastructure investments in rural regions, job creation, and overall increased revenue for farmers are all advantages of using biofuels. Gaseous biofuels include compressed biogas (CBG) and bio-CNG. Liquid biofuels include biodiesel or bioethanol.
By 2050, biofuels could meet more than a quarter of world transportation fuel demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). There are many ways in which governments support biofuels at present, including blending mandates, targets, subsidies, tax exemptions, credits, tax breaks for biofuel producers, excise tax exemptions, and corporate tax breaks for biofuel producers. It is also hoped that reduced import duties will encourage biofuel production and use locally, as well as support for research and development (R&D) and direct participation in biofuel production.
Introduction
Typically referred to as plants or products derived from plants, biofuel is a fuel that is made from living creatures. Through photosynthesis, plants convert atmospheric CO2 into polysaccharides like cellulose and hemicellulose. The idea of carbon neutrality relates to the fact that biofuels are made from plant-derived polysaccharides, which means that when they are utilized (combusted), CO2 is not increased.
To mitigate the effects of global climate change by lowering CO2 emissions, using biofuels is an effective strategy. In terms of land usage, nonfood biomass is a promising resource for biofuel production since rice straw, corn stover, and forest thinning residues do not compete with food production. Biofuels can be produced from nonfood biomass only if two technical hurdles are overcome:
- Pentose-to-biofuel conversion technology,
- The use of organic compounds derived from nonfood biomass as a means of mitigating fermentation inhibition (an aromatic, an organic acid, or a furan, for example).
Despite the presence of pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose) and hexose sugars (glucose, mannose, and galactose) in polysaccharides made of nonfood biomass, existing commercial bioprocess bacteria are unable to utilise pentose sugars, resulting in low production of biofuels. Pretreatment, or thermochemical treatment of nonfood biomass, results in the production of inhibitory chemicals, yet it is necessary for the effective enzymatic saccharification of biomass. Low yield and productivity of the bioprocess are caused by these inhibitory chemicals.
Top 10 Best Biofuel Manufacturing Companies In India 2023
- G-Energetic Biofuels Pvt. Ltd
Leading biodiesel producer G-Energetic Biofuels Pvt Ltd has received ISO 9001 accreditation for its bioethanol, glycerine, biodiesel, and other industrial chemicals manufacturing processes and products. Uco is gathered from various food businesses, and biodiesel is made utilizing state-of-the-art equipment.
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura are rising biodiesel producers in the U.P. with a large presence in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and other states in the North-East. They also have retail Biodiesel outlets all across the nation.
- Biodiesel Technocrats
One of the biggest producers of biodiesel in India is Biodiesel Technocrats, Kolkata, which has a facility with a team of highly skilled and qualified workers who design, fabricate, assemble, and commission biodiesel production facilities with capacities ranging from one to five hundred KLPD using cutting-edge technology. They studied at their Biodiesel Research Lab, produced in their manufacturing facilities in Delhi, Kolkata, and Nagpur, and their world-class technical team completely redesigned the biodiesel production process and developed specialized biodiesel processing equipment.
Modern adsorbent technology is used by these biodiesel producers to process a variety of biodiesel machinery. These Indian biofuel facilities are built to produce a variety of feedstocks, including acid oils, high FFA animal tallow, RBD vegetable oils, Pongamia, and jatropha. By designing, constructing, and gathering Biodiesel Processing Plants, this biodiesel plant manufacturer has established a dominant market position.
- Abellon Clean Energy
Another top biodiesel producer in India, Abellon Clean Energy, has the goal of improving the country via the use of environmentally friendly electricity, heating, and transportation. Abellon provides a range of solid biomass pellets that are good for the environment, neutral in terms of carbon emissions, and eco-friendly machinery that can effectively replace systems that use LPG, diesel, and other fossil fuels.
- Emami Agrotech Ltd.
Spices, edible oil, vanaspati, speciality fats, and the production and distribution of biodiesel are among the wide variety of commercial operations carried out by Emami Agrotech Ltd. The biodiesel producer also engages in contract farming to cultivate crops with a high chance of making money. Emami Agrotech Limited, a company that is a member of the Emami Group of Companies, is one of the major producers of biodiesel in India. It generates annual sales of Rs. 25,000 crores and engages in the trading of both biodiesel and edible oil. The corporate office of the business is in Kolkata.
With its brands “Healthy & Tasty” and “Himani Best Choice,” the firm has made a significant impact in the edible oil market. The business also exports a substantial amount of biodiesel to Europe and Southeast Asian nations in addition to being a major producer of biodiesel (palm methyl ester) in eastern India.
- Altret Greenfuels Limited (AGF)
The mission of Altret Greenfuels Limited (AGF) is to safeguard the environment via the use of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable biological agents in order to become one of the top biodiesel producers in India. This biodiesel business in India employs state-of-the-art methods, techniques, and equipment to give its clients, staff, and shareholders the most value possible. AGF continues to influence and lead the non-conventional energy markets. They intend to produce and use renewable energy for the economic growth of the nation and the entire world, as well as use municipal solid waste to make fuel briquettes.
- Universal Biofuels Private Limited
The integrated renewable fuel, chemical, and natural oil manufacturing plant in Kakinada, India is the foundation for the biodiesel production company Universal Biofuels Private Limited. The goods produced at their multi-product manufacturing plant may be sold both domestically and abroad. The company’s headquarters are in Hyderabad, India, while its multi-product manufacturing facility is located in Kakinada, India. A skilled and committed workforce allows Universal Biofuels to produce and market its goods globally.
- Washwell Biodiesel
With a plant in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, they have been producing biodiesel there since 2015. The distilled biodiesel they produce daily is nearly 2 lakh gallons. In addition to other areas, they work in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. An easy-to-use, trouble-free, and green fuel is distilled biodiesel. As opposed to the typical crude Biodiesel that is sold on the market, purified Biodiesel is different. This results in a problem with filter choking in vehicles. On the other side, smooth, completely issue-free distilled biodiesel is a green fuel.
- Khanda Biofuels Private Limited
Founded in Telangana, Khanda Biofuels Pvt. Ltd. was the country’s first biodiesel producer. It has since established a strong reputation as a pioneer in the design, building, and assembly of biodiesel processing plants. As providing highly qualified and trained personnel with specialized advice on how to install and use biodiesel processing units, streamline the process, and maximize the efficiency of the biodiesel plant, they specialize in the production, design, and commissioning of various biodiesel processing units. They also provide services like “Oil Purification & Degumming Plants” and “Dry Wash Systems.”
- Chemical Construction International (P) Ltd.
Since 1944, Chemical Construction International (P) Ltd. (CCI) has specialized in turning around batch extraction units and refineries for the Indian edible oils and fats industry. In addition to oil and fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel, palm oil mills, by-product recovery, spices and herbal extract, and by-product recovery, these producers of biodiesel have developed a wide range of products and services. More than 250 turnkey biofuel projects have been completed in more than 20 countries by this Indian factory.
- Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd
Using a multi-feedstock strategy and cutting-edge biotechnology, Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd (SBT) is a pioneer among creative biodiesel producers in India, creating biodiesel that is far better than conventional diesel. An environmentally conscious greenfield business. It started producing biodiesel in 2003 and is now a major player in India. Their biofuel firms stand out because, among other things, they develop wastelands, employ Pongamia as a renewable raw material, and save money on foreign exchange.
India’s Biofuel Policy
In 2001, India launched a trial program for a small 5% ethanol mix. With the introduction of the National Mission on Biodiesel, which aspired to achieve 20% biodiesel blending in a diesel by 2011–12, the biofuel mission was established in 2003. Following this, the National Policy on Biofuel (NPB) was released in 2009, and the updated NPB was then introduced in 2018.
By 2017, ethanol and biodiesel might optionally be blended at a target rate of 20%, according to the NPB 2009. NPB 2009 aimed to make it easier for indigenous biomass feedstock for biofuel production to expand to its full potential. In addition to proposing a supportive framework of monetary, institutional, and technological interventions, the NPB 2009 outlined the vision, aims, and strategy for the development of biofuels.
By 2030, 20% ethanol and 5% biodiesel were recommended as an indicative blending objective in the amended biofuels policy, NPB 2018, which went into effect on May 16, 2018. Reducing crude oil imports, increasing farmer income, creating jobs, making the best use of drylands, and promoting sustainability are the goals of NPB 2018. The goal of the policy is to offer financial and fiscal incentives tailored to the various types of biofuels, which are divided into first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), and third-generation (3G) fuels.
Conventional ethanol and biodiesel are considered first-generation biofuels. In the second generation, there are fuels made from biomass, MSW, plastics, and industrial wastes, as well as ethanol made from lignocellulosic biomass, non-food crops, and industrial wastes and residues. Food wastes, biomass, MSW, sewage water, and other wastes can be compressed into BioCNG for the third generation. Compressed biogas production units and the availability of compressed biogas as a green fuel on the market are among the schemes like Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT). Key Obstacles to the Production of Biofuel:
- 2G Bioethanol Production
The collection and delivery of biomass leftovers by farmers to a next-generation ethanol plant is not yet encouraged by any legislative mechanism. Establishing a trustworthy supply chain for biomass that includes biomass feedstock collection, transportation, and handling is crucial. If policymakers want to support the industry over the long run, they can set up a system that allows cooperatives or agricultural groups to participate in the collecting, storage, and transportation of leftovers.
A supply chain should be created and run to maximize economic potential, social benefit, and environmental effect while minimizing supply chain uncertainties and high market risk associated with the second-generation biofuel business. India may benefit from this by utilizing its population advantage. If there are any skill gaps, these should be filled through training and incorporated into bigger national initiatives like Skill India.
Pre-treating the feedstock to make the lignocellulose’s carbohydrates available for conversion is a major obstacle in the manufacturing of cellulosic-based bioethanol.
A pre-treatment method’s effectiveness in preventing product deterioration, which might thwart future hydrolysis and fermentation, is the most important factor to consider when choosing one, in addition to costs. An important factor in determining the price of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation is the pre-treatment of raw materials, which accounts for one-third of the overall cost of producing bioethanol.
Another significant challenge is how to use the carbon dioxide the plant produces. Future production must address the implementation of 2G ethanol facilities owing to their high production costs, significant political and policy risks, and technological risks with low potential returns.
- Biodiesel production
Food security is hampered by the need for adequate land for the development of biodiesel made from edible oil. It is not practical to utilize edible oil because the majority of the supply in the nation is imported. Numerous agronomic and financial limitations on the production of feedstock, such as high cultivation costs, low yield, inadequate seed supply, and inappropriate selling channels, cause farmers to shut down their plantations. However, using non-edible oil sources has drawbacks such as decreased performance in cold areas, the potential for contamination and impurities in animal fats, and the absence of a centralized system for gathering such raw materials.
Filtration and phospholipid removal are necessary steps in oil extraction procedures like mechanical extraction. In addition, presses used for mechanical oil extraction are often designed for a limited range of plants and are inefficient for a wide range of feedstocks. N-hexane extraction, on the other hand, has the danger of having a detrimental effect on the environment and people’s health due to the creation of sewage and volatile organic compound emissions.
The implementation of the biodiesel program is said to be significantly hampered by a lack of government support. Recent times have made it necessary to take several initiatives, such as implementing legislative measures to encourage usage, requiring the blending of biodiesel, and providing incentives to support the biodiesel program, to address the issues.
- BioCNG production
There are issues with feedstock availability and quality because of weak supply networks and ineffective collecting methods. Fluctuations in feedstock quality and availability may hinder plant productivity, which might have a long-term negative impact on plant profitability. One of the causes of the closure of biogas plants is the decline in the number of farm animals in rural regions, which makes it impossible to supply the plants with the pledged amount of waste.
Individual home biogas systems are expensive but only produce non-cash advantages like biogas, which is frequently used as fuel for cooking. The goal of large-scale commercial biogas facilities, on the other hand, is to make money by selling by-products like heat, power, or transportation fuel. Long-distance trash treatment and transportation come at a significant financial expense. Competition from chemical fertilizers that get significant government subsidies as well as organic fertilizer is another key issue.
There are several obstacles to the production of biogas in rural areas, including high upfront installation costs, long wait times for financial assistance, competition from other fuels, a lack of feedstock supply, a lack of social acceptance for the production of biogas from substrates like night soil, human waste, and dead animals carcasses, a lack of proper training and capacity-building programs, and a lack of awareness of the benefits it provides for the environment.
One of the key factors contributing to the sluggish growth of the waste-to-energy industry is the lack of proper segregation, collection, and transportation technologies and methods in cities for MSW. Due to the large regional variations in waste characteristics, process standardization is challenging, which prevents the broad application of biogas technology.
Anaerobic digestion is competed with by other waste treatment techniques including composting, vermicomposting, and waste to pellets, which can also be used to treat organic municipal and industrial waste. A further barrier to the adoption of biogas digesters for waste management in urban areas is the preference for inexpensive treatment options like composting. The cost of the procedure is increased by the additional infrastructure needed for biogas cleaning.
Due to the large regional variations in waste characteristics, process standardization is challenging, which prevents the broad application of biogas technology. Anaerobic digestion is competed with by other waste treatment techniques including composting, vermicomposting, and waste to pellets, which can also be used to treat organic municipal and industrial waste. A further barrier to the adoption of biogas digesters for waste management in urban areas is the preference for inexpensive treatment options like composting. The cost of the procedure is increased by the additional infrastructure needed for biogas cleaning.
Third-generation biofuel challenges:
The manufacture of algae-based biofuels is fraught with difficulty and uncertainty. Cost and expense are threats posed by economic research. While they are still in competition with other biomasses, their commercial acceptance remains uncertain.
The conversion of CO2 by algae to carbonic acid may cause an unregulated pH increase, which would ionize the medium in which the algae are grown. It could be challenging for sunlight to penetrate deep into a huge algal bloom.
Consequently, the following are the main issues that limit the output of algal biofuel:
- Information
Information on the demand for and research into algal biofuel is currently scarce. However, additional research is required to determine how well algal biofuel works in vehicles, equipment, aircraft, and other vehicles. Information on the demand for and research into algal biofuel is currently scarce. However, additional research is required to determine how well algal biofuel works in vehicles, equipment, aircraft, and other vehicles.
- Need for a high lipid content
The high quantities of lipids in the feedstock—fatty, oil-containing acid molecules that can be isolated and used to make biofuels—are largely responsible for the efficiency of fuel conversion from algae.
- Complex procedure
Algal biofuel production involves a number of stages before it is ready to be used as fuel. This procedure is difficult and drawn out.
- High Use of Fertilizer
Only by using additional fertilizer can enormous amounts of algae be created. Additionally, the manufacture of fertilizer uses a lot of energy and emits a lot of carbon dioxide, which affects the algal biofuel’s ability to be carbon dioxide neutral across the board.
- Reducing the amount of algal mortality due to biotic and abiotic causes
Algal monocultures have a high risk of being infested by pests and diseases, hence crop protection is a significant obstacle to the sustainability of algal production.
- High demand for water
Algae need a lot of water to flourish, hence they need a lot of water sources. High temperatures can occasionally cause water levels to evaporate, which hinders development.
- Costly to Produce
To this day, the cost of producing algae biofuels is still significantly greater than that of fossil fuels.
- Quality Problems
There are many different kinds of algae in the crust of the earth, but not all of them generate the same quantity of oil.
- Using Land
Regardless of the growth model used or the effectiveness of oil extraction, a large amount of implementation is needed to replace a significant amount of fossil fuel.
- Dietary Challenge
For effective growth, algae require light, nutrients, water, and a carbon source, most frequently CO2. Most algae need nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, and sulfate as their primary nutrients.
The Conclusion
The importance of developing a strong biofuel industry in India to solve the concerns of energy security and fuel self-sufficiency has been widely acknowledged. Even though the conflict between food and fuel is very important on a global scale, India’s biofuel production program effectively ignores it since the nation has made the conscious decision to not use any edible feedstock for the process, which also places restrictions on it. The National Biofuel Policy was established to take advantage of the various environmental, social, and economic benefits that would come from the nation’s extensive biofuel production.
Lack of governmental support for sustainable supply chain norms and solutions, a lack of entrepreneurial assistance, and a lack of subsidies or incentives to encourage competition among bioenergy producers are all significant impediments to the production of biofuels.
Some of the above-mentioned barriers could be removed with the aid of new policies and initiatives or adjustments to current ones. The use of blending biofuel with conventional petroleum should be made mandatory, and prices should be subsidized, to promote the biofuel business in India.
Though the program may be sustained in the short term by supportive government policies, active participation from the neighbourhood community, and private businesses, it is crucial to have a strong long-term strategy in place. The long-term sufficiency of the current trend is improbable given the available feedstock alternatives, technical status, and regulatory possibilities. To satisfy the nation’s anticipated future needs for bioenergy, a sizable research effort on the creation of second and third-generation feedstock is necessary.
