The non-renewability, ecological issues and health dangers associated with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the method 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 curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure type.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) 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 climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha 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 huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 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 suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now
A research study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. 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 ought to likewise be checked out. It will not just supply an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
