Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health dangers associated with the fossil fuels has caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, 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 utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or generally) 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 operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 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 most significant advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance 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 ought to likewise be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.