The non-renewability, ecological issues and health dangers connected with the fossil fuels has caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be used 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 contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure form.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like normal 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 saved just like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 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 but in India the maximum capacity 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 curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas 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 aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen 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 ought to also be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
