Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could 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 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 however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 however 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 most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.