Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers connected with the fossil fuels has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized 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 however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure type.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop 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 intends to satisfy 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 materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now
A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not just supply an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
