The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure form.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across markets and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. 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 require any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum costs and the environmental 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 units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 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 raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
