Ethanol, often known as ethyl alcohol, is a versatile compound with numerous applications in various sectors. It is generally derived from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane and has become a crucial component in everything from fuel to medications.

Ethanol is a renewable biofueedl that is frequently combined with gasoline to produce environmentally acceptable alternatives such as E85, hence reducing carbon emissions. In the medical field, ethanol is an important antiseptic and disinfectant that is used in hand sanitizers and cleaning solutions. It is also a useful solvent in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and culinary sectors, where it dissolves active substances and tastes. Furthermore, ethanol is the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages and is used in food preservation, industrial cleaning, and the manufacture of personal care products such as fragrances and hair sprays. Ethanol's numerous applications make it a vital element in everyday life.

According to TechSci Research report “India Ethanol Market, By Type (Bio Ethanol, Synthetic Ethanol), By Raw Material (Sugar & Molasses Based, Grain Based, Lignocellulosic Biomass, Algal Biomass), By Purity (Denatured, Undenatured), By Application (Fuel & Fuel Additives, Industrial Solvents, Disinfectant, Personal Care, Beverage), By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2029” India Ethanol Market has valued at USD 6512.27 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 8.84% through 2029.

Top 10 Ethanol Manufacturing Companies in India:

1. Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd.

Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. (BCML) is among the leading sugar manufacturers in India. It is one of the first sugar companies in the country to diversify its business from sugar to distillery and cogeneration. The company possesses a crushing capacity of 80,000 tonnes of cane per day across 10 plants. All its 10 sugar plants are in Eastern and Central part of Uttar Pradesh.

Notable Contributions:

In 2020, the mill commissioned a 160 KLPD distillery at Gularia to manufacture ethanol and converted the sugar manufacturing process of Tulsipur plant having capacity of 7000 TCD from the double sulphitation to defco remelt phospho-floatation process.

BCML is a significant player in the Indian sugar industry and operates several sugar mills across Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest sugar-producing states in India.

BCML has heavily invested in ethanol production, which is a key contributor to the renewable energy sector.

2. EID Parry India Ltd.

E.I.D. Parry (India) Limited is one of the leading agribusiness companies in India, and it is a significant player in the sugar and ethanol production industry. E.I.D. Parry is a subsidiary of The Murugappa Group, and it has made notable contributions in the field of ethanol production, as well as other sustainable initiatives.

Notable Contributions:

E.I.D. Parry has long been involved in the production of ethanol, primarily from sugarcane, which is one of the key feedstocks for ethanol production in India.

E.I.D. Parry operates multiple ethanol distilleries in India, contributing significantly to the national ethanol supply, particularly for use in the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program initiated by the Indian government.

It is first sugar manufacturer in India to initiate farmer-centric model of business as early as 1845.

Parrys Pure is the only sugar brand to be conferred the ‘Super Brand’ status in India.

3. Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd.

Renuka is one of the first in the industry to harness the potential of sugar as a source of green energy since over two decades. It is one of the topmost manufacturers of ethanol in India with a capacity of 1,250 KLPD. It has pioneered production of ethanol from sugarcane juice employing an advanced process that helps it maximize its contribution to the ethanol-blending program while balancing the sugar inventories.

Notable Contributions:

It is one of the largest contributors to India’s ethanol blending program.

All its operations are embedded with sustainability through cutting-edge technology to ensure environment-friendly functioning.

It has also undertaken power projects at third-party mills on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, which has proved to be highly beneficial for all its stakeholders.

4. Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd.

Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd. is an Indian company that operates in multiple sectors, primarily, sugar, alcohol, water solutions, power transmission, and defence. The company has state-of-the-art distilleries spread across Muzaffarnagar (MZN) - 2 facilities, Sabitgarh (SBT), Milak Narayanpur (MNP), Rani Nangal (RNG) and Shamli in Uttar Pradesh. These facilities have the capability to produce Ethanol, Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), Rectified Spirit (RS) and Denatured Spirit (SDS). The Company utilises a mix of sugarcane-based feedstocks as well as grain. Distillers Dried Grain Solubles (DDGS), a co-product produced on grain operations is also sold to premium Institutions and has been well accepted in the market. The company also manufactures Indian Made Indian Liquor (IMIL) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

Notable Contributions:

It supplies ethanol to oil marketing companies (OMC) for blending with petrol, which makes it a green fuel, and to the major private players in the oil & gas sector.

The company commenced a new multi-feed distillery at Rani Nangal, Uttar Pradesh with a production capacity of 200 KLPD (Kilo liter Per day), which placed the Company amongst the leading ethanol manufacturers in the country.

5. Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Ltd.

Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Limited, a subsidiary of the Dalmia Bharat Group, is a prominent Indian company engaged in the manufacturing of sugar, power generation, industrial alcohol production, and refractory products. Established in 1994, the company has expanded its operations across multiple states in India, including Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Notable Contributions:

The company practices zero-waste production, utilizing every by-product of sugar manufacturing, including bagasse, to produce power, ethanol, and other useful products.

Dalmia Bharat Sugar is aligned with the Indian government’s vision to achieve 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025.

The company’s involvement in the ethanol sector supports the agricultural economy, particularly sugarcane farmers.

6. Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd.

Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd. (BHSL) is India's leading sugar and ethanol manufacturing company. Bajaj Sugar is a key entity within the Bajaj Group and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  The company operates 14 sugar plants exclusively in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). These plants are strategically located in Gola Gokaran Nath, Palia Kalan, Khambharkhera (Lakhimpur Kheri district), Barkhera (Pilibhit district), Kinauni (Meerut district), Gangnauli (Saharanpur district), as well as Thanabhawan and Budhana (Muzaffarnagar district), Bilai (Bijnor district), Maqsoodapur (Shahjahanpur district), Pratappur (Deoria district), Rudauli (Basti district), Kundarkhi (Gonda district) and Utraula (Balrampur district). The combined sugarcane crushing capacity of the plants amounts to 136,000 TCD (tonnes crushed per day), with an alcohol distillation capacity of 800 KLD (kilolitres per day).

Notable Contributions:

Pioneering India's "Fuel Ethanol" programme, it presently manufactures 38 million litres of ethanol annually.

In response to the increasing demand for ethanol, the company has expanded its ethanol manufacturing capacity to around 218 million litres per year.

7. HPCL Biofuels Limited

HPCL Biofuels Limited was incorporated in 2009 as a wholly owned subsidiary of HPCL as a part of their backward integration. HBL was to set up integrated sugar, ethanol & co-gen power plants by reviving two closed sugar mills namely, Sugauli & Lauriya in the State of Bihar. The ethanol from these plants were to be used for blending in petrol, which is the ambitious Ethanol Blending Program of the Union Government.

Notable Contributions:

It uses bio-compost equipment to treat the spent wash generated from the ethanol plant, ensuring zero effluent discharge.

In addition, evaporation technology is also employed to reduce the spent wash generation to reduce pollution.

8. Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd.

Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd. is a prominent Indian company that is primarily involved in the production of sugar, ethanol, and power. Established in 1933, it has since grown into one of India's leading integrated sugar producers with a strong presence in the renewable energy and biofuel sectors. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and rural development.

Notable Contributions

It is among the first in sugar sector to venture into renewable energy in form of green fuel & bio power.

It is investing in ethanol business to expand its capacity by over 50%.

It has gradually expanded from being a sugar company to an organisation that derives its energy from sugar.

9. Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Limited

Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Limited is a multi-faceted, diversified industrial group engaged in the manufacture of the finest grains of sugar, as well as allied products.

Notable Contributions:

In 2007, it commissioned another modern plant with 7500 TCD sugar capacity and 36 MW power capacity in village Bhagwanpur Phulwa, Tehsil – Faridpur, District – Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh).

It has made significant strides in ethanol production from sugarcane molasses.

10. Bannari Amman Group

Bannari Amman Group is a diversified business conglomerate based in India, with operations spanning across multiple industries such as sugar, ethanol, cement, textiles, engineering, and construction. The company has five sugar factories with aggregate capacity of 23700 MT of sugarcane crushing per day and 129.80 MW of Cogen Power. It has two Distillery units with the aggregate production capacity of 217.50 KLPD. The group has made significant contributions to various sectors, and its operations are spread primarily across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.

Notable Contributions:

It produces over 60,000 litres of Industrial Alcohol and Extra Neutral Spirit per day from sugarcane molasses.

According to TechSci Research report “India Ethanol Market, By Type (Bio Ethanol, Synthetic Ethanol), By Raw Material (Sugar & Molasses Based, Grain Based, Lignocellulosic Biomass, Algal Biomass), By Purity (Denatured, Undenatured), By Application (Fuel & Fuel Additives, Industrial Solvents, Disinfectant, Personal Care, Beverage), By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2029” India Ethanol Market has valued at USD 6512.27 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 8.84% through 2029.

Uses of Ethanol in Various Industries:

Ethanol is a versatile biofuel with numerous applications in various industries due to its properties as a renewable energy source and its ability to blend with gasoline. In India, the usage of ethanol has increased dramatically, driven by government policies promoting ethanol blending and renewable energy.

1. Transportation (Fuel Industry)

Ethanol is generally utilized as a biofuel additive to gasoline, resulting in ethanol-blended gasoline (E10, E20, etc.), which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels, reduce emissions, and promote cleaner energy. Ethanol mixes also increase the octane rating of gasoline. The Indian government has set a target of 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025, a major step toward reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy security.

2. Pharmaceutical Industry

Ethanol is extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry due to its versatile properties. It is commonly employed as a solvent to dissolve a wide range of compounds, enabling the formulation of various pharmaceutical products. Additionally, ethanol's antimicrobial properties make it a key ingredient in disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and antiseptics, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a surge in demand for ethanol-based sanitizing products. Moreover, ethanol is used to extract active ingredients from herbs and plants, facilitating the production of medicines and herbal formulations. These combined uses highlight ethanol's vital contribution to pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare.

3. Food and Beverage Industry

Ethanol is a crucial ingredient in the creation of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits, where it is predominantly contributes to the alcohol content. Additionally, it is used in flavoring and as a preservative in food products. Ethanol serves as a food-grade preservative and additive in products like vanilla extract and other flavoring agents, helping to enhance taste and extend shelf life. Its versatility in both the beverage and food industries makes it an important component for production and preservation.

4. Other Uses of Ethanol

Ethanol offers a wide range of applications in many industries. In cosmetics and personal care, it serves as a solvent and carrier, aiding in the dissolution of other chemicals in products like perfumes, deodorants, and lotions. It is also used in skin care products such as toners and aftershaves due to its antiseptic properties. In the industrial sector, ethanol is used as a solvent in the production of chemicals, paints, coatings, and varnishes, and can also serve as an industrial fuel in combustion engines, particularly in smaller equipment or regions focused on sustainable fuel alternatives. In the automotive and aviation industries, ethanol is used in ethanol-powered vehicles, including Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), and is being explored as a sustainable aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions.

Conclusion:

These top 10 ethanol manufacturing companies in India include Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd, EID Parry India Ltd., Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd., Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd., Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Ltd., Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd., HPCL Biofuels Limited, Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd., Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Limited, Bannari Amman Group. These companies are significantly contributing to ethanol production in India, especially as the country aims to increase ethanol blending in petrol and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. These companies are primarily involved in sugar production, which is a major source of ethanol derived from sugarcane molasses.