The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas 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 used in its pure type.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished 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 reduction 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 facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
