Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that could 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 consists of no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like typical 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 similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum rates and the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used 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 meet 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 used 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 most significant advantage of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other . India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not only provide a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.