Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, 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 aims to fulfill 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 materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of a number of years. 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 appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.