2G Ethanol Plant: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the 2nd-Generation (2G) Ethanol Plant in Haryana on August 10, 2022 on the occasion of World Biofuel Day.

Key Highlights:

• PM Modi dedicated the 2G Ethanol Plant to the nation through video conferencing
• This plant is aimed at tackling the problem of stubble burning in Haryana and adjoining region.
• The 2G Ethanol Generation Plant is being developed at a time when India is giving priority to the production and use of biofuels in the nation.

Key Points about 2G Ethanol Plant:

• The 2G Ethanol Plant has been set up by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in the Panipat Refinery and Petrochemical Complex (PRPC).
• The plant has been setup on 35 acres of land.
• It has been developed at a cost of Rs 900/- crore.
• It will be used to transform 2 lakh tonnes of rice straw (parali) into 3 Crore litres of Ethanol annually.
• The production of 2G ethanol on commercial basis will start within 3 months.

Significance of the plant:

• It can produce 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day by processing 750-tonne paddy straw.
• It will help in increasing the income of paddy farmers.
• Rice straw will be brought from the farmers for which they will be paid, thereby increasing their income.
• It will provide employment to around 250 people directly and also employ 1000 people indirectly through the supply chain for rice straw cutting, handling, storage, etc.
• It will curb air pollution caused due to burning of crop residue.
• It will help in the reduction of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of about 3 Million Tonnes annually.
• It will benefit the farmers of Panipat, Jind, Karnal, Sonepat, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Yamunanagar.

Paddy straw for ethanol production:

• Paddy straw for ethanol production will be purchased from farmers.
• 12 collection centres have been set up in Panipat and Karnal for this purpose.

What is the purpose of 2G Ethanol Plant is being setup in Haryana?

• The purpose of 2G Ethanol Plant being setup in Panipat, Haryana is it offers a two-pronged approach to resolving the nation's energy crisis.
• Stubble or Rice Straw burning is a major cause of air pollution in North India and it impacts the states of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi along with parts of Easter Uttar Pradesh.
• The plant will use rice straw (parali) and transform it into Ethanol and help in curbing air pollution caused due to burning of crop residue.

Background:

• The Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan had announced the setting up of 2G Ethanol plant on October 10, 2016.

About Biofuel Day:

• World Biofuel Day is observed every year on August 10th every year across the globe.
• It is to observed to create awareness about the non-conventional sources of energy that can be easily used as an alternative to fossil fuels.
• The day also commemorates the research experiments done by Sir Rudolf Diesel who ran an engine with peanut oil in 1893.
• It offered the world hope that in the future, biofuels could take the place of conventional fossil fuels.