(a) whether the government proposes to promote alternative fuels and hybrid engines in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the hurdles noticed due to which production and usage of bio fuels has been affected in the country; and
(d) the action taken to remove the hurdles so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POWER, COAL & NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a)&(b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under its broad based Research, Development and Demonstration Programme has been supporting projects at academic institutions, research and development organisations and industry for development of engines for use of hydrogen alone, its blend with compressed natural gas and in dual fuel mode with diesel or straight vegetable oil for automotive and stationary power generation applications. Standards for blending of bio- ethanol and bio-diesel into petrol and diesel have already been formulated by Bureau of Indian Standards.
(c)&(d): The usage of biofuels is affected mainly by the lack of their availability. For enhancing the production of biofuels, research and development is being supported for production of bio-ethanol from ligno-cellulosic biomass and for improving the yields of Tree Borne Oilseeds for production of bio-diesel.