The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease 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 includes no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure type.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives 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 intends 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 utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials 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 benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved 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 decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
