1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Sue Amos edited this page 2025-01-14 05:01:27 +08:00


The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused expedition 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 obtained from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run . 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 usage or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout industries and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal 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 saved just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish 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 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie 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 could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.