On the sidelines of the annual G-20 summit in New Delhi (2023), an India-led grouping came together to give impetus to the production and use of biofuels, an alternative to fossil fuels like petroleum and diesel. The grouping, called the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) would attempt to bring countries together to co-develop, accelerate technological advances in production processes, and advocate for the use of biofuels particularly in the transport sector.
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The three founding members, India, the U.S. and Brazil, were joined by countries like Argentina, Canada, Italy, South Africa, etc.
How Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) can help get sustainable biofuels on track?
The GBA can help get sustainable biofuels on track by focusing on three main areas:
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I . Identify and help develop markets with high potential for biofuels production
Over 80% of sustainable biofuels production and use is in the United States, Brazil, Europe and Indonesia, however all together they account for less than half of global transport fuel demand. Expanding sustainable biofuels use will therefore require expansion into new markets and expanded production in existing markets.
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Augmenting sustainable supplies in each market requires enhancing measurement and monitoring for sustainable supplies, assessing mixed technology deployment pathways and developing regional-specific policy packages, while learning from existing experiences.
The GBA may therefore consider answering the following questions:
What regions have high potential for biofuel growth in existing and new markets?
What biomass assessment and monitoring/reporting/validation programmes should be instituted at the country level to ensure common understanding regarding present and future supplies of sustainable biomass?
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What combination of conventional and advanced production technologies are needed to meet national sustainable development and emissions reduction targets in priority markets, given feedstock availability and renewable blending or GHG reduction targets?
What package of policies, programmes and investment support would help expand sustainable biofuels production in these high potential areas?
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II . Accelerate technology deployment to commercialise advanced biofuels
Advanced biofuels must grow 15 times by 2030 from 2021 levels in the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions scenario, doubling total biofuels production over the same time period. However, planned investments to date remain well below this level of growth.
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The GBA may consider answering these questions:
What coordinated international efforts between GBA members could accelerate the commercialisation and deployment of advanced biofuels at the pace and scale required for global net zero commitments?
What actions and investments are needed to commercialise advanced biofuels at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero commitments?
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III . Seek consensus on performance-based sustainability assessments and frameworks
More consistent and internationally recognised sustainability frameworks would help improve measurement and reporting, improve GHG reductions, encourage sustainable biofuels trade and help new markets incorporate lifecycle GHG accounting into their biofuel policies.
The GBA may consider answering:
What framework could seek consensus on transparent, practical and evidence-based carbon accounting methods to ensure domestic reductions, improve production efficiency, drive costs lower, and facilitate trade?
External link: https://mopng.gov.in/en/page/68
