Ethanol from Wood Cellulosic Biomass: A Potential Bio-fuel for the Future in India

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The energy strategy of a country aims at efficiency and conservation Providing access to energy should be environment friendly and sustainable. The renewable energy resources are locally available, non-polluting and virtually inexhaustible. India is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources. One way of reducing environmental effects and the dependence on fossil fuels is to use renewable bio ethanol. Cellulosic materials can be used to produce bio ethanol which is an important, renewable liquid fuel for motor vehicles. To attain an economically feasible process, the production cost must be reduced so as to approach the corresponding cost of fossil fuels. This paper deals with the importance of ethanol production from wood cellulosic biomass and its future potential as an alternative for fossil fuel.