1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Tamika Ruff edited this page 2025-01-18 15:38:13 +00:00


The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. 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 combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage across markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise started exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the has actually used up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand 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 capacity 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 product is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A 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 create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance 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 offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.