Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal 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 includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect 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 adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to develop 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 intends to fulfill 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 production but in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only provide a response to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.