Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, 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 currently functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used 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 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 used as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil – a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help 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 complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not only offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.