The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks related to the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated 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 however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved just like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 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 however in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful lifespan of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be checked out. It will not only provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
