Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could 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 consists of no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure type.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use across markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the chances 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 normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be stored simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish 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 vegetable 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 biggest benefit of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates 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 produce 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires 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 must also be checked out. It will not just provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.