вЂњIndian Oil Corporation LtdВ has launched a pilot project on M15 in Assam and it is expected to have spill-over benefits to the other parts. So, companies are exploringВ methanol as an alternative fuel,вЂќ she said, adding that in 2018 the standards for M15 (mixing 15 per cent methanol with petrol) were laid out. вЂњWith the aim to ensure energy security and rise in current energy prices, there is a significant push on the cost-effectiveness of alternative fuels. вЂњThe private sector is also showing interest and is doing its own research trials and pilot project,вЂќ the Methanol InstituteвЂ™s India representative said. Since the Covid pandemic set in, the Centre has understood the dynamics of the production of renewable energy, shown interest and ensured its growth.

вЂњIn the past five years, we have seen significant growth in the production of indigenous resources to use methanol as an alternative,вЂќ she said.

The institute, along with NITI-Aayog, is focussing on ensuring energy security and cutting IndiaвЂ™s burgeoning fuel bills. вЂњBut we are now looking at technical providers utilising methanol for fuel and power generation,вЂќ Sethi said. Methanol Institute, which has the worldвЂ™s largest producers and distributors as its members, has been in the country since 2016 working with, besides Niti Aayog, the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Renewable Energy and Road Transport and Highways. The study - based on internal research done by the Ministry of Coal in collaboration with private investors - coal gasification companies, and technical experts, found that methanolвЂ™s price is likely to be в‚№22-25 a kg or в‚№17.5-19.8 per litre (density of methanol вЂ“ 0.791 kg/litre) based on a conservative estimate. Sethi said methanol is cost-effective compared with other sources such as ethanol and pointed out a study by NITI-Aayog comparing ethanol, methanol and gasoline. It is available at a relatively cheaper than natural gas and crude oil, which are imported. But we are now looking at producing bio-methanol from renewable sources such as agricultural wastes and municipal solid wastes,вЂќ she said.ДЄnother method of producing methanol is e-methanol from captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen.ДЄccording to the NITI-Aayog, methanol derived from coal is the most economically viable option for India in view of the abundant reserves it has. вЂњIndia and China have huge resources of coal to produce methanol. Sethi said traditionally methanol has been produced from coal and natural gas with more output from the latter. NITI-Aayog, the CentreвЂ™s think-tank which is working in tandem with the Methanol Institute since 2016, has come up with the вЂњMethanol EconomyвЂќ programme aimed at reducing the countryвЂ™s oil import bill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and converting coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.

Satisfactory fuel generator