1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India
angelicamacart edited this page 2025-01-12 03:53:02 -05:00


The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason 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 just like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up 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 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 greatest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen 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 must likewise be checked out. It will not just provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.