Methanol Economy | Environment for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


METHANOL ECONOMY 
Page 2


METHANOL ECONOMY 
INTRODUCTION 
India needs around 2900 cr litres of petrol and 9000 cr 
litres of diesel per year currently, the 6
th
 highest 
consumer in the world and will double consumption 
and become 3
rd
 largest consumer  by 2030.  
Our import bill on account of crude stands at almost 6 
lac crores. 
Hydrocarbon Fuels have also adversely affected the 
environment with Green House Gas Emissions (GHG). 
 India is the third highest energy related carbon dioxide 
emitter country in the world.  
Almost 30%pollution in cities like Delhi is from 
automobiles and the growing number of automobiles 
on the road will further worsen the pollution.  
Page 3


METHANOL ECONOMY 
INTRODUCTION 
India needs around 2900 cr litres of petrol and 9000 cr 
litres of diesel per year currently, the 6
th
 highest 
consumer in the world and will double consumption 
and become 3
rd
 largest consumer  by 2030.  
Our import bill on account of crude stands at almost 6 
lac crores. 
Hydrocarbon Fuels have also adversely affected the 
environment with Green House Gas Emissions (GHG). 
 India is the third highest energy related carbon dioxide 
emitter country in the world.  
Almost 30%pollution in cities like Delhi is from 
automobiles and the growing number of automobiles 
on the road will further worsen the pollution.  
INTRODUCTION 
It must be noted that the recent situation is alarming 
and time has come for the Govt to present a 
comprehensive road map to reduce the urban 
pollution in this country and stop pollution related 
deaths completely. 
The country has set a goal to reduce the import bill by 
10% by the year 2022.  
Crude oil imports drain our foreign exchange, putting 
enormous pressure on our currency & thereby 
weakening our bargaining power with the rest of the 
world. 
 We need to have our own “Indian Fuel of global 
relevance” 
 
 
Page 4


METHANOL ECONOMY 
INTRODUCTION 
India needs around 2900 cr litres of petrol and 9000 cr 
litres of diesel per year currently, the 6
th
 highest 
consumer in the world and will double consumption 
and become 3
rd
 largest consumer  by 2030.  
Our import bill on account of crude stands at almost 6 
lac crores. 
Hydrocarbon Fuels have also adversely affected the 
environment with Green House Gas Emissions (GHG). 
 India is the third highest energy related carbon dioxide 
emitter country in the world.  
Almost 30%pollution in cities like Delhi is from 
automobiles and the growing number of automobiles 
on the road will further worsen the pollution.  
INTRODUCTION 
It must be noted that the recent situation is alarming 
and time has come for the Govt to present a 
comprehensive road map to reduce the urban 
pollution in this country and stop pollution related 
deaths completely. 
The country has set a goal to reduce the import bill by 
10% by the year 2022.  
Crude oil imports drain our foreign exchange, putting 
enormous pressure on our currency & thereby 
weakening our bargaining power with the rest of the 
world. 
 We need to have our own “Indian Fuel of global 
relevance” 
 
 
METHANOL 
Methanol is a clean burning drop in fuel which 
can replace both petrol & diesel in 
transportation & LPG, Wood, Kerosene in 
cooking fuel. 
 It can also replace diesel in Railways, Marine 
Sector, Gensets, Power Generation and 
Methanol based reformers could be the ideal 
compliment to Hybrid and Electric Mobility.  
 
Page 5


METHANOL ECONOMY 
INTRODUCTION 
India needs around 2900 cr litres of petrol and 9000 cr 
litres of diesel per year currently, the 6
th
 highest 
consumer in the world and will double consumption 
and become 3
rd
 largest consumer  by 2030.  
Our import bill on account of crude stands at almost 6 
lac crores. 
Hydrocarbon Fuels have also adversely affected the 
environment with Green House Gas Emissions (GHG). 
 India is the third highest energy related carbon dioxide 
emitter country in the world.  
Almost 30%pollution in cities like Delhi is from 
automobiles and the growing number of automobiles 
on the road will further worsen the pollution.  
INTRODUCTION 
It must be noted that the recent situation is alarming 
and time has come for the Govt to present a 
comprehensive road map to reduce the urban 
pollution in this country and stop pollution related 
deaths completely. 
The country has set a goal to reduce the import bill by 
10% by the year 2022.  
Crude oil imports drain our foreign exchange, putting 
enormous pressure on our currency & thereby 
weakening our bargaining power with the rest of the 
world. 
 We need to have our own “Indian Fuel of global 
relevance” 
 
 
METHANOL 
Methanol is a clean burning drop in fuel which 
can replace both petrol & diesel in 
transportation & LPG, Wood, Kerosene in 
cooking fuel. 
 It can also replace diesel in Railways, Marine 
Sector, Gensets, Power Generation and 
Methanol based reformers could be the ideal 
compliment to Hybrid and Electric Mobility.  
 
METHANOL 
Methanol Economy is the “Bridge” to the dream of a 
complete “Hydrogen based fuel systems”. 
Methanol burns efficiently in all internal combustion 
engines, produces no particulate matter , no soot , 
almost nil SOX and NOX emissions (NEAR ZERO 
POLLUTION).  
The gaseous version of Methanol – DME can blended 
with LPG and can be excellent substitute for diesel in 
Large buses and trucks. 
NITI Aayog has drawn out a comprehensive plan to 
replace 20% of crude imports from Methanol alone.  
Adopting Methanol in this scale would bring down 
pollution in the country by more than 40% and not to 
forget the benefits from import substitution.