The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure type.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of fuel sources, the Indian Government has used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced 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 vegetable 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 capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha 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 amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of numerous decades. 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 mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is accomplished 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 reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max use 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 checked out. It will not just provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Elinor Newbery edited this page 21 hours ago