The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained 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 consists of no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure kind.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities 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 generally) 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 effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum costs and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to develop 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 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 potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve 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 growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Chester Dummer edited this page 2025-01-10 23:05:30 +01:00