The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks associated with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from veggie 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 includes no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure form.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also begun checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental risks 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 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 veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 greatest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India needing extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now
A study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not just supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
