Producing second generation biofuel in India: A tool for climate change mitigation

In India increasing demand of energy across all sectors is a result of rapid economic and industrial growth which is expected to continue in future too. This increase in demand of energy leads to the problem of climate change and it is forecated that by 2030 the demand for energy in India is expected to be doubled. An alternative domestically produced environmental friendly source of energy is the need of an hour as India's energy consumption is totally fossil fuel based which is the major contibuter in GHG emission. Producing 2^nd generation biofuels in India can be considered as a viable alternative to fossil fuels because it does not contribute in GHG emission, reduce import bills and the feedstock for its production, i.e. lignocellulosic biomass, is available in abundance throughout the country. This paper provides information about India's potential for the sustainable production of 2^nd generation biofuel along with its efficiency to reduce CO₂ emission.