India Needs a Corn-Driven Energy Security Boost

Dr. JP Gupta, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), has called for a 'Corn Revolution' to boost India's energy security. He argues that the country can create an integrated ecosystem where energy security and food security reinforce each other.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has exposed vulnerabilities in energy security, making self-reliance crucial for national security. Dr. Gupta suggests replacing LPG with ethanol as a priority, citing the country's commercially proven technologies and operating plants to support this transformation.

Corn is not just a food crop but can be used as an alternative to crude oil and feedstock for various products like bio-ethylene, sustainable aviation fuel, chemicals, thermoplastics, e-methanol, hydrogen, and more. Dr. Gupta emphasizes that the negative effects of ethanol blending are largely factually incorrect.

He also recommends not permitting coal gasification projects using imported coal and suggests requiring suppliers to conduct performance testing with Indian coal for at least three months. The country has made significant progress in solar, hydro, wind, bioenergy, and green hydrogen, with renewable energy contributing nearly 20% of the total power generation.