The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease 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 includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure kind.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise started exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country 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, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept just like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 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 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 biggest benefit of using Jatropha 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 cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas growing in the nation. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 cultivation of Jatropha in India offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
