India establishes Combustion Research Institute to build better engines for biofuels

The Indian central government has established a Combustion Research Institute that will attract top scientists from around the globe to improve Indian fuel research.

To date, Indian research in biofuels has focused primarily on feedstocks and water supply. Last week, Tata Chemicals (TCL) said that it would join the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium. TCL recently began construction of a sweet sorghum-based ethanol plant in Nanded, Maharashta.

In recent months, questions are being raised about the ability of the country to cultivate sufficient crops to produce ethanol to meet current and future mandates. 60% of Indian water supply is currently diverted to human use, according to a International Water Management Institute study. The researchers point out that it will require 26% of India’s water supply to produce enough ethanol to meet a 10 percent mandate.

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