The non-renewability, ecological issues and health dangers associated with the fossil fuels has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could 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 contains no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure kind.
Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. 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 costs and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish 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 vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort 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 assistance in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not only supply a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
