UP Government to Collaborate with Denmark for Ethanol Production

Danish Ambassador Freddie Svane recently met with Chief Secretary DS Mishra and thoroughly discussed the utility of technology related to the conversion of stubble straw into bio straw briquettes into ethanol or methanol.

The Danish Ambassador stated that bio methanol and e-methanol are produced from agricultural waste, wheat, and paddy straws.

The state government is interested in adopting a similar technology, and after establishing the first plant in Denmark, the Uttar Pradesh government may take steps in this direction by collaborating with Denmark.

The hydrogen gas in the carbon dioxide produced by the fermentation process is used to produce e-methanol. Denmark is launching the first project using this patented technology. It is planned to begin production in 2025.

The proposed Danish patented technology is not in use anywhere on the planet. The first plant based on this method is currently under construction and is scheduled to begin production in 2025. It is proposed to produce 1.00 lakh tonnes of ethanol from 145 million normal cubic metres of biogas (1,10,200 tonnes of gas) collected from six 450 tonnes capacity briquette production plants. The CAPEX for establishing this plant has been estimated to be Rs 2225 crore.

It is proposed to produce 2.50 lakh tonnes of methanol from 145 million normal cubic metres of biogas collected from six 450-tonne-capacity briquette production plants. The CAPEX for establishing this plant has been estimated to be Rs 3034 crore. The prices of produced ethanol and methanol are approximately Rs. 80.00 and Rs. 64.00 per litre, respectively.

On 50 acres of land in Gorakhpur, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) is constructing a 2G ethanol plant. It is proposed to invest around Rs 800 crore. The raw material for the plant will be cellulose, which will be made from sugarcane byproducts, agricultural residues, vegetable oils, and sugar. The proposal to produce Bio-CNG from wet waste is also being considered by urban bodies in the state's major cities.