Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats connected with the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived 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 etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities 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 hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop 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 aims to fulfill 20% of India’s diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the 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 biggest benefit of using Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate 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 attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid 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 offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be explored. It will not only offer a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.