Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health dangers related to the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized 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 use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact 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 used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.