Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health dangers connected with the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently 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 demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to establish 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 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 used as the pre-dominant basic 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 benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 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 curcas cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.