The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might 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 includes no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure kind.
Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts 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 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 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 raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding 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 initiative of 2% jatropha curcas 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 aid in decrease of Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however 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
Marquita Sallee edited this page 2025-01-12 18:26:06 +01:00