The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might 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 consists of no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure type.
Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored simply like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, 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 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw 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 a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now
A research study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
