Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure type.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to fuel, diesel and . India has likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken 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 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be explored. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.