The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute 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 originated from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure kind.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 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 however in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained 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 federal government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum 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 should also be checked out. It will not only offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
