The source of fossil fuel is finite, non-renewable and ever depleting. India is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its energy requirements and, therefore, needs to identify renewable fuel sources which would help reduce import of petroleum crude. There are several important steps that the country needs to take to carry forward research on renewable sources for production of alternative fuel and reaching the output to the remotest corners so that the poorest of the poor can be provided fuel at an affordable price. 

The only non-renewable solid fuel that is still controlling the world’s energy sector is coal, in view of the restricted utilisation of nuclear energy. The replacement of liquid fuel is a near difficult task in the coming several decades. So, the world is slowly towards the use of hydrogen as the replacement of liquid fuels.During the last several decades, technologists and energy experts have been putting in efforts towards developing liquid fuels having very similar chemical and physical properties as natural gas, coal and other carbonaceous fuels. But which are the fuels that may actually be referred to as “Alternative Fuels”? Presently the unanimously accepted “alternative fuels” are methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and bio-diesel which meet several objectives such as dependency on petroleum crude which is imported non-renewable resource, reduce airemissions and overall increase fuel utilization efficiency.

Renewable sources such as corn and other agricultural products are used for production of biodiesel and ethanol fulfilling the sustainability characteristics. However, due to the volatile market of petroleum crude these are more expensive than conventional gasoline and diesel. Technology exists today for use of CNG and LPG in automobiles and buses and trucks are run in many urban areas of Asia and Europe on CNG and LPG. However, use of clean-burning gaseous fuels such as CNG, LPG and hydrogen for private vehicles is limited.

The major concern for any kind of fuel is its sustainability – is it renewable or non-renewable? All these alternative fuels can be produced from a fossil fuel source or renewable resource. It is obvious that improvement in industrial techniques for cost-effective production of fuel from renewable sources is the major challenge in the present scenario.                                                      

Q-1: Why there is a need to identify renewable fuel or alternative fuels ?

Q-2: Why the world is slowly towards the use of hydrogen?

Q-3: Which are the fuels that may refered to as ‘alternative fuels’ presently?

Q-4: Why some renewable resources though fulfilling the characteristics of sustainability, are more expensive than the conventional resources ?

Q-5: How the production of fuel from renewable resources is the major challenge presently and why it is major concern in the present scenario ?