Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It of no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up initiatives 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 utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 utilizing Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending initiative 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 aid in decrease 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 totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming however might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.