Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Shelia Healy edited this page 1 week ago


The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas 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 use or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts 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 meet 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 greatest advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.