Fuel Ethers Offer Key to India’s Clean Energy Transition, Says TERI-ACFA Study – Asia Pacific

A recent report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the Asian Clean Fuels Association (ACFA), has identified a significant opportunity for India to enhance its biofuels program by incorporating fuel ethers like Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE) and Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE).

The report, titled “Enhancing India’s Biofuels Program: Examining the Role of Oxyfuels in India’s Clean Fuel Transition,”highlights that ETBE-blended gasoline can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent more than the widely used E10 ethanol-blended fuel. Moreover, ETBE can integrate 2.7 times more renewable energy into gasoline compared to traditional biofuels. The report emphasises that adopting fuel ethers, which have been successfully implemented in countries like Japan, Germany, and France, could significantly reduce pollution while also improving fuel efficiency and lowering the need for additional ethanol blending infrastructure.

The findings suggest that ETBE offers a key advantage by being easily blended with gasoline at refineries, in contrast to ethanol, which requires substantial infrastructure investment. ETBE is produced by combining ethanol with isobutene, while MTBE is derived from methanol and isobutene. The report further stresses the need for India to upgrade the octane rating of its gasoline to at least 95 RON, up from the current average of 91/92 RON, in order to meet global standards and ensure fuel economy improvements. It also points out the economic benefits of encouraging Indian refineries to increase the production of ETBE, MTBE, and TAME, which would reduce fossil fuel consumption, improve energy security, and create export opportunities.

Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director-General of TERI, said, “India’s multi-fuel opportunity is significant, and the role of fuel ethers is transformative in driving our sustainable energy future. The government’s landmark policy measures, including the removal of subsidies for petrol and diesel, incentivising electric vehicles, and scaling-up emerging technologies, mark a decisive shift towards cleaner energy sources. Fuel ethers in the form of ETBE/MTBE can catalyse positive economic and social impacts.”

ACFA leadership added, “The promotion of India’s ‘ethanol economy’ through the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program has been a significant step in the effective realisation of our goal for a self-reliant fuel ecosystem. While the ethanol blending programme has numerous benefits, challenges, such as potential implications on food security due to increased feedstock production and the technical impact of ethanol-blended fuels on the environment, warrant thoughtful consideration. Additionally, the infrastructural challenges related to ethanol storage and transportation further emphasize the need to explore complementary strategies. There are numerous benefits associated with blending ethanol and ethers like ETBE and MTBE, improving further cleaner burning of petrol in engines and acting as octane boosters, replacing undesirable compounds that may have critical technical or toxicological properties.”

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