The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats related to the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure form.
Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. 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, rising petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop 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 satisfy 20% of India's diesel need 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 maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen 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 ought to also be explored. It will not just supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
