Q1.       What are Bio-fuels?

Ans.   Bio-fuels are renewable liquid fuels derived from biological materials by a number of chemical / biological  processes. 

      Q2.      What are the advantages of Bio-fuels?

  ·         Renewable in nature

  ·         Environment friendly

  ·         Reduced dependence on fossil fuels

  ·         Increased agricultural economy and rural employment

      Q3      Which are the potential Bio-fuels being financed by IREDA?

  ·         Ethanol             (primarily for blending with petrol)

  ·         Bio-diesel             (for blending with diesel)

      Q4      What are the raw materials used for production of Bio-fuels?

  ·         Ethanol:

       There are three categories of raw-materials used for the production of ethanol: -

       1)       Sugar based             –  sugar cane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum etc.

       2)      Starch based             – all types of grains including wheat, rice, corn, barley, malt etc. and

                  tubers such as potatoes and cassava etc.

       3)      Cellulose based – agro-waste, agro-residues, bagasse, rice-husk, straw etc.

  ·         Bio-diesel:

      Edible and non-edible oil and animal fats.

      Potential sources of bio-diesel in India can be non-edible oils obtained from plants species such as Jatropha Curcas   (Rattan jot), Pongamia  Pinnata (karanj ) etc.

      Q5.   Has IREDA financed any Bio-fuels projects so far?

      Ans. Yes, IREDA has already financed some ethanol projects.