Ethanol industry eyes India’s kitchens
All India Distillers' Association (AIDA), the apex industry body representing ethanol manufacturers, bioenergy producers, and stakeholders across the distillation sector, bring attention to the growing need for developing alternative domestic utilisation pathways for surplus ethanol in India.
Recent geopolitical disruptions have tightened LPG supplies, leading to prioritisation of household consumption, while commercial users continue to face supply constraints. This over-dependence on a single imported clean cooking fuel underscores the urgent need to diversify India's cooking energy mix.
With significant investments of nearly 240,000 crore made over the past few years, the domestic ethanol industry has developed substantial production capacity. As of 28th February 2026 (ESY 2025-26), over 353 crore litres of ethanol have already been blended, achieving an average blending level of 20% in petrol. The current installed ethanol production capacity stands at approximately 2000 crore litres per annum, with the potential to scale up to 2400+ crore litres by 2026-27. In this scenario, a potential surplus is likely to emerge, necessitating the creation of additional demand avenues.
In this context, ethanol-based cooking solutions present a promising opportunity as a complementary clean cooking fuel for households, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas, as well as for commercial establishments such as small food businesses and institutional kitchens.
From a technical standpoint, while ethanol has a lower calorific value compared to LPG, advancements in stove design, optimised burners, and efficient fuel delivery systems can effectively bridge this gap for practical cooking applications.
Such an initiative aligns closely with national priorities of promoting clean energy access, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and strengthening the domestic biofuel ecosystem. It also encourages innovation in downstream applications while ensuring optimal utilisation of existing ethanol capacities.
AIDA is currently in initial discussions with a premier Institute for the development of a detailed white paper and a prototype on ethanol-based cooking solutions. This initiative aims to provide technical validation, design optimisation, and implementation pathways to support the scalable adoption of such solutions in India.
