Synergy between the conventional and the non-conventional
Fossil Fuel Lobbyist- a term I was quite benighted to, earlier this week. But once I heard the term I could not help but fall into a rabbit hole, reading about them and figuring out what exactly they want. It’s basically an umbrella term used to name the paid representatives of large fossil fuel (oil, gas, coal) and electric utilities corporations who attempt to influence governmental policy. The way they influence the policies, is quite obviously by funding most of the political campaigns. The so-called big oil companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Total SA, BP, Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are the prime players in the field of fossil fuel lobbying. According to a study that was published by Drexel University sociologist Robert Brulle, between 2000 and 2016, lobbyists spent more than $2 billion trying to influence global climate legislation.
“Different Corporations typically push for whatever positions are advantageous to their economic well-being” writes Brulle, and their well- being is definitely not in the reduction of fossil fuel use, even though the general well-being of mankind and planet earth is.
Why Fossil Fuel will die a slow death in India?
Presently, coal contributes to almost 50% of energy consumption. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and economic growth undoubtedly, comes hand-in-hand with increased energy consumption. According to British Petroleum (BP), by 2035, India will have the largest growth in the energy consumption amongst all the major economies and it will remain dependent on energy imports to meet its needs. It is paramount that policy makers strike a balance between economic growth and climate change. Renewable energy sector, is still in its toddler state, in India, and hence has not been able to contribute significantly as of yet.
Dr.D Chandrasekhar, Head of Earth Science Department at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, stated in a conference that “India with its 10,600 MW geothermal power potential is yet to appear on the geothermal power map of the world.” The presence of a significant coal reserve and powerful coal lobbyists are hampering India’s shift to non-conventional energy sources, including geothermal power.
A deeper look into the coal sector and the unobjectionable initiative to hamper it has brought out the dark players such as the coal unions, mafias and the shady politics. If any significant changes need to be done in India, these are the issues that need to be addressed first, only then can we take a significant step in changing the energy mix ratios. Careful consideration must also be given to the loss of jobs that will be encountered when the coal use is reduced, which will ultimately lead to the political repercussions.
Biofuels- our serendipitous saviour
As the saying goes, “the Enemy of my Enemy is my friend”.
For the longest time, the biofuel sector and the conventional fuel sector have not seen eye to eye on blending fossil fuel and biofuels. But with the release of electric vehicles in the commercial markets and the incentives that are given to these vehicles globally, they haven’t had much of a choice but to team up. The Bio-fuels and the fossil fuel lobbies agree that such incentives are a threat to their business, but have not had harmonious relationships in the past.
But now since consumers have taken a liking towards the electric cars as well, they have to avail for the incentives that are given if they work together. Compelling the fossil fuel sector to work with the biofuel sector is the only way we can reduce a fraction of the ill effects that are caused by the detrimental drilling of the earth to extract all forms of ‘Black Gold’.
Bioenergy is the largest used renewable energy in the world, accounting for 14 percent of the total 18 percent renewables used in the global energy mix. Bioenergy accounts for both the traditional sources such as fuelwood and charcoal which account for 90 percent of the bioenergy use as well as the modern bioenergy like biogas and biofuels which accounts for a mere 10 percent.
There are four generations of biofuels. The first generation is the use of food crops like sugarcane, maize and oilseed. The second generation is the used of non- food produce like food crop waste, organic waste and wood. The third generation is the use of specifically engineered energy crops like algae and the fourth generation is the use of more advanced technologies that use the CO2 generated at every production stage. Currently the first generation biofuel is most common globally and the second generation is being endorsed in India primarily by the government. Bioethanol, in India is primarily produced from molasses, (a by-product of sugar production) and bio-diesel is produced form non-edible jatropha seeds.
India had set a target of 20 percent blending of bioethanol with petrol and biodiesel with diesel by 2017, but did not achieve it as the production levels have not been able to meet with the demand. Though the target was not achieved a 3.3 percent blending was achieved in 2016. The biofuel production in India is cyclical as the sugarcane production is not continuous. Hence it is seen that that the bioethanol production cannot be maintained and hampers the blending target.
The biodiesel industry in India has not seen any significant breakthrough in recent times. The Jatropha plant which was perceived to be a high yielding non-native variety, has not performed up to the expectation of researchers and on the contrary has been water and fertilizer intensive in nature. With the recent implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a 12 percent tax is now levied on both biodiesel and ethanol. This has resulted in biodiesel being more expensive and has almost brought the biodiesel market to a standstill. Interestingly, no GST is levied on petrol and diesel as the centre and state policy makers are not in favour.
Conclusion
At the end, all that can be said is the coexisting of the fossil fuel lobbyists and the left wing renewable sector is challenging. It is understood that for one to win the other has to lose, but the only right thing to do is to see who the ultimate winners will be; the already powerful and rich fossil fuel moguls or our planet and its inhabitants. The most ironic fact is that both these groups are not mutually exclusive but the former wrongly believe that they have the economic resources to sustain themselves and their loved ones even if at the end of the bargain with nature we end up living in a melting pot. As for now, the biofuel sector really needs the push as it is the only answer to a disputed yet feasible reconciliation of the conventional and non-conventional energy sectors.
Statistical data was collected from Institute for Défense Studies and Analyses