Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 20% of India’s diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not only offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.