Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has 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 originated 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 used in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the need in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives 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 intends to meet 20% of India’s diesel demand 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 maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.