Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil 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 includes no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout industries and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country 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 truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum costs and the ecological threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which intends to satisfy 20% of India’s diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished 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 steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only supply a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.