1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Sebastian Libby edited this page 7 days ago


The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage across markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the . India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 government is taking steps to encourage the growing of jatropha curcas in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.