Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might 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 but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout industries and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not only supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.