The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure type.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be saved simply like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to establish 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 vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials 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 as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now
A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not just provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
