1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Trudi Miele edited this page 2025-01-18 12:46:54 +09:00


The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil 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 however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives 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 intends to satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in all across India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 curcas in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not only provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.