Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from vegetable 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 use or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel . India has actually likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological risks 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 need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie 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 capacity 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 basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 federal government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen 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 should also be explored. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.