Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health dangers related to the fossil fuels has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived 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 contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which intends 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save 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 strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.