Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising 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 etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use 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 typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum rates and the ecological threats 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 revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 20% of India’s diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing effort 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 help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.