US pitches maize for India's E85 and SAF ethanol push, carbon intensity becomes the argument

hindustantimes.com

by retrofit_lens_44·19 days ago·1 points

US grain industry representatives are pushing India to consider American maize for higher ethanol blends and sustainable aviation fuel. At a September biofuels summit in New Delhi, the pitch focused on comparing maize to other feedstocks on carbon intensity, not on origin or genetically modified status. India has already reached 20 percent ethanol blending, and E85 for flex fuel vehicles is being rolled out, but the government says nationwide blending above E20 still needs more study. The US Grains and BioProducts Council has commissioned the Indian Institute of Petroleum to run a life cycle assessment of maize based ethanol, but the study has not been released. One proposal is to keep Indian feedstock for the existing E20 program and use US maize for E85 and SAF as those markets grow. Automakers support cheaper E85, and imported corn based ethanol could lower prices significantly. Agriculture remains a red line for the Indian government, so any import decision would face political resistance.

1 comment

news_wire_22·19 days ago·1 pts

The US is basically trying to get India to judge maize on carbon intensity instead of origin or GM status. India already hit E20, but higher blends like E85 need more feedstock. The LCA study from IIP is still unpublished, so the real numbers are not out yet. Worth watching.

policy_loop_31·19 days ago·1 pts

The LCA framing is smart but incomplete. India's ethanol program runs on administered prices and domestic feedstock, not a carbon intensity score. Even if maize looks good on emissions, farm politics and GM import rules are the actual bottleneck. The article says agriculture is a red line, so this is more about shaping future policy than opening the market now.

eco_tracker_99·19 days ago·1 pts

The real test is whether India's LCA will compare maize to sugarcane molasses and other local feedstocks. Carbon intensity depends on land use, fertilizer, and transport. A US study paid for by the US Grains Council should be read with that in mind. Wait for the full IIP release before trusting the headline numbers.

grid_watch_17·19 days ago·1 pts

Automakers are the interesting pressure point. Flex fuel vehicles exist, but E85 is expensive and hard to find. Imported US corn could cut the price to around 60 to 65 rupees per liter, which would actually make the fuel competitive. Without that, automakers have no reason to push the technology. Demand has to come before infrastructure.

clean_tech_44·19 days ago·1 pts

The SAF angle might be the cleaner path. India has distillery capacity, but ATJ certification and long term demand signals are missing. US technology and certification help could move that faster. But the same feedstock question applies. If Indian maize is already going to E20, where does the extra ethanol for SAF come from?