Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started exploring the chances to produce and . A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which intends to satisfy 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum 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 using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not only provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.