Global consensus on climate change and environmental issues are driving growth and market of alternate fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel. We have to progressively move to second generation biofuels which will not impinge on food crops, said Shri M.S. Srinivasan, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas at the inaugural of the International Symposium on Biofuels organised jointly by PetroFed and UOP LLC, USA in association with PFC Energy, USA at New Delhi on September 25-26, 2007.

India has substantial potential in new and renewable energy sources, said Shri V. Subramanian, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy during his principle address at the symposium. The Hon’ble Ministers for Petroleum and Natural Gas and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Murli Deora and Shri Vilas Muttemwar respectively, could not attend due to last minute political compulsions.

Welcoming over 200 delegates across industries from India and abroad, officials from Government and Embassies, Shri A.K. Arora, Director General, PetroFed stated that feedstock costs and government regulations were critical to strategy in any country and next generation processes will increasingly affect production as they become commercialised. Renewables, he said, have the added advantage of having a lower carbon footprint and are more environment friendly.

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, Director, UOP LLC, USA in her theme address projected a biofuels growth of 15.1% per year during 2004-2015. Cellulosic waste and algal oils have the potential to make significant contributions, she added while stating that inedible oils like Jatropha can provide a bridge between first generation and second generation biofuels.

The three sessions on the first day on Ethanol, Bio-diesel, and Economics, Pricing and Incentives were chaired by Mr. Gary P. Godwin, Managing Director, UOP India; Mr. M. Ganapati, President (Corp. Plng.), RIL; and Dr. Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, IRADe. There were twelve presentations from experts in the subject from India and abroad, including Government.

The two sessions on the second day on Policy & Changes, and Actions for Biofuels Development were chaired by Dr. B. Mohanty, Director, PPAC and Dr. Kirit Parikh, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India. There were three presentations followed by a panel discussion wherein the panelists succinctly expressed their point of view. Besides Q&A sessions after each session, the panel discussion aroused a host of questions. A summary of the key issues during the symposium was presented by Mr. Prabhakar Nair, UOP, LLC.

Before a vote of thanks by Shri Y. Sahai, Director (Comm. & Mktg.), PetroFed, the Director General, PetroFed, Shri A.K. Arora announced a decision to hold an International Symposium on Biofuels once every two years and a National Symposium every year.

Click the following links to see programme & presentations:

Programme

Inaugural Session

• Biofuels: Unlocking the potential -- Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, Director, UOP LLC, USA

Session I - Ethanol

• Present Status of Feedstock Management & Technology Developments in Ethanol Sector -- Mr. Jai Uppal, Sr. Advisor, Centre for Alternate Energy Research,Gurgaon, Haryana, India 
• The Potential of Biofuels from Diverse Feedstocks -- Mr. Matt Ringer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA 
• Creating a Sustainable Biomass Infrastructure -- Mr. Prabhakar Nair, UOP LLC, USA
• Butanol – A Possible Alternative Energy Source -- Dr. R.P. Verma, Consultant (R&D), HPCL
• Blending and Handling of Ethanol and Bio-Diesel -- Mr. Dharmesh Shah, Manager (Oil & Gas),Honeywell Automation, Pune, India

Session II - Bio Diesel

• Biodiesel: Feedstock & Technology Options -- Dr. R.K. Malhotra, IOC (R&D), Faridabad, Haryana, India
  
• Ecofining Technology for Renewable Diesel -- Mr. Prabhakar Nair, UOP LLC, USA
•  Bio-diesel as Auto Fuel; Present & Future Opportunities -- Mr. S. Krishnan, Tata Motors, Pune, India

Session III - Economics, Pricing & Incentives

• Ethanol & Biodiesel -- Mrs. Gauri Jauhar, PFC Energy, Washington, USA.
  
• Ethanol -- Mr. Rama Babu, President, ISMA, Chennai, India
• Bio-diesel: Indian Initiatives -- Mr. N.R. Raje, Former Director (R&D), IOC
• Bio-fuel Initiatives in Orissa -- Mrs. Rebecca Nayar  (Addl. Secy., Govt. of Orissa)

Session IV – Policy & Changes

• The EU Experience in Bio-fuels – Case Study Germany -- Ms. Sona Maniar, PwC
• Indian Bio-fuel Policy -- Mr. Deepak Mahurkar, Associate Director, PwC

Session V - Panel Discussion

• Actions for biofuel Development -- Mr. Alok Adholeya, Director, Bio-Technology and Management of Bio-Resources, TERI, New Delhi