Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that might be used 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 consists of no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout industries and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to 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 kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 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 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 greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates 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 generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in decrease 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 supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.