The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.
Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to establish 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 materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 benefit of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now
A study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 federal government is taking steps to encourage the growing of jatropha curcas in India providing 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 must likewise be explored. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
