Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Minda Walthall edited this page 2 weeks ago


The non-renewability, environmental issues and health dangers related to the has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand 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 capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India needing very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve 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 actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be explored. It will not only provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.