Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India

The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks associated with the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might show 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 etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 20% of India’s diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw 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 most significant benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 government is taking actions to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be checked out. It will not just supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.