The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed 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 blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure kind.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends 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 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 biggest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now
A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas 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 federal government is taking steps to encourage the growing of jatropha curcas in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not only provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
