Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental issues and health threats associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized 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 but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage across markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 20% of India’s diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable 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 biggest advantage of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of several years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable 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 aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.