Mission Integrated Biorefineries

Context:

Recently, the Union Minister of State Science & Technology launched a major futuristic PPP (Public Private Participation) mode initiative for ‘Clean Energy‘ with the full launch of “Mission Integrated Biorefineries”.

Mission Integrated Biorefineries:

• It is a mission that unites a dynamic and result-oriented partnership of countries, international organizations, academic institutions and civil society to accelerate innovation for renewable fuels, and chemicals for a low-carbon future.
• The full launch of Mission Integrated Bio-refineries comes in the wake of the soft launch in November last year at COP26 side event at the Mission Innovation annual gathering.
• The Mission brings together a dynamic and delivery-focused alliance of countries, the private sector, research institutes, and civil society to accelerate innovation in renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low-carbon future.
• Objectives and Goal: The mission aims to advance sustainable biorefining pathways and technologies to support the development and commercialization of bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials, by also considering process energy demands.
• This will support de-risking new and emerging technology, while improving the cost-competitiveness of bio-based alternatives, especially biofuels.
• It will also accelerate Clean Energy solutions through Public -Private Alliances.
• The goal of the mission is to Develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to accelerate the commercialization of integrated biorefineries, with a target of replacing 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals and materials with bio-based alternatives by 
• Initiatives involved: This is the sixth Mission launched by Mission Innovation, and involves initiatives focused on clean hydrogen, green power systems, net zero shipping, carbon dioxide removal and urban transitions.
  • Mission Innovation is a global initiative to catalyse action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible to all this decade.
  • It was launched alongside the Paris Agreement in 2015.
• Members: The Mission is Co-led by India and the Brazil and Canada are core members, and the European Commission and the United Kingdom are supporting members.

What is the Need of Mission Integrated Bio-refineries?

• Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport and chemicals sectors already account for nearly one-third of global emissions with transport responsible for already one-fourth of them, and are projected to increase by 2050, in particular from transport.
• Therefore, there is a need for low-carbon and renewable alternatives to fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as, long-haul transportation, and industry.

What is Mission Innovation?

• Mission Innovation is a global initiative to catalyze action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible to all this decade.
  • Launched alongside the Paris Agreement in 2015.
• It is the main intergovernmental platform addressing clean energy innovation through action-oriented cooperation.
• Its members represent over 90% of global public investments in clean energy innovation and have increased their annual investments by USD 5.8 billion since 2015.
• The 23 members of Mission Innovation are: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the USA, and the European Commission (on behalf of the European Union).

About the Sustainable Aviation Fuels National Funding Opportunity

• The National Funding Opportunity on Sustainable Aviation Fuels was also announced to support and conduct research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) in biotechnology for low-carbon routes so that cleaner biofuels can be made available for aviation uses.

Hydrogen Valley Platform Information

• The Hydrogen Valley Platform’s fundraising opportunity was also revealed. 
• It is a global endeavour to optimise hydrogen supply and demand through onsite consumption and generation, optimal use of renewable resources, and the identification of water surplus locations. 
• In addition, India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) plans to build three clean hydrogen valleys by 2030.

Material Acceleration Platforms

• There have also been three Material Acceleration Platforms (MAP) launched. The DST has put these in place. 
• The three platforms are the Materials Integrated Clean Energy Material Acceleration Platform, Storage Integrated Clean Energy Material Acceleration Platform, and Bioenergy and Hydrogen Integrated Clean Energy Material Acceleration Platform. 
• The cost of establishing these platforms totals USD 6 million. 
• These platforms will aid in the advancement of developing capabilities in AI, next-generation computing, machine learning, and robotics.

Source: PIB

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