Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India

The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure type.

Developed nations particularly 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 a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more units. The Government revealed 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 vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 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 appropriate for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not only provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.