Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel motors. 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 combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 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 used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal 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 raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save 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 government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be checked out. It will not only provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.