The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence 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 need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.
Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of several years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas growing in the nation. India now
A study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
