Context
The significance of biofuels, particularly 2G biofuels, in light of the G20's establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance and the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs).

Necessity of Biofuels in the Wake of EV  
EV Dominance vs. Decarbonization Challenges:
• Despite an increase in the usage of electric vehicles (EVs), questions remain on how biofuels can assist solve the issues related to decarbonization.
• Because of the trade-offs involved, EVs will require large capital investments to replace current internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and infrastructure.
• The importation of necessary materials for EV batteries raises ethical and environmental concerns about mining practises.

Biofuels as a Viable Alternative:  
• Because biofuels can be used in existing ICE engines with little modification, they present themselves as a viable alternative.
• Unlike electric vehicles (EVs), biofuels allow for import independence, which reduces dependency on resource imports.
• It is necessary to distinguish between sustainable and non-sustainable biofuels in order to create effective decarbonization plans.

Generations of Biofuels:  
1st Generation (1G) Biofuel in India:
• In India, the most popular type of biofuel is 1G ethanol produced from food crops.
• India's policy is to achieve a 20% ethanol blend (E20) in fuel by 2025–2026, mostly by using 1G ethanol made from sugarcane and food grains.

2nd Generation (2G) Biofuels as a Sustainable Option:  
• 2G biofuels, which are made out of crop waste and residue, offer a more environmentally friendly alternative.
• It is difficult to scale up the production of 2G ethanol because of the feedstock supply chain.
•Realising economies of scale while taking into account the costs and energy required for biomass collecting and transportation is a significant issue.

Issues with 1G Biofuel   
• Sugarcane farming raises questions about groundwater depletion and food security.
• Crop yield stagnation, which is exacerbated worse by climate change, threatens agricultural output.
• Given that the agriculture industry produces a sizable amount of greenhouse gases, it is challenging to justify increasing emissions for the production of motor fuel in order to balance emissions from the transportation sector.

Renewable biofuels are essential  
·         "Sustainable" biofuels, which are produced from crop waste and residues with little impact to the environment, offer a practical alternative.
·         India is committed to combating climate change, as seen by programmes like the Global Biofuels Alliance, which was founded during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi with the aim of enhancing sustainable biofuels and increasing ethanol consumption.
 
Way Forward 
Sustainable Biomass for Particular Sectors: 
• It is critical to give sustainable biomass use priority in sectors like long-distance travel and road freight where there are few low-carbon alternatives.
It's possible that focusing on petrol vehicles, which are now subject to ethanol mixing, is not the greatest strategy for sustainable biofuels.

Targets for Sustainable Biofuels at the Global Level:  
• In order to achieve the global net-zero emissions targets by 2050, the output of sustainable biofuels must triple by 2030.
•The potential for 2G ethanol to be a sustainable fuel is emphasised, especially if distributed production can be established to reduce the transit of crop residues.

Balancing Sustainability and Economies of Scale:   
·         Scale economies and sustainability must be balanced, however this presents a significant challenge given the energy requirements for biomass collection and transportation as well as associated costs.
·         The Global Biofuels Alliance is ready to accelerate innovation and technological development while fostering a successful biomass supply chain and supporting decentralised small-scale biofuel production.
·         The Complexity of Achieving True Sustainability: Achieving true sustainability in biofuels is a difficult challenge that necessitates a careful examination of the greater ecosystem in order to avoid unanticipated negative impacts.

LTX Model Question
Q. How can biofuels replace electric vehicles in India's energy revolution context? Consider the issues with sustainability brought by biofuels and the value of promoting sustainable biomass in specific businesses.