1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
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The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks related to the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace 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 originated 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 however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and more affordable option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be saved similar to the fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum costs and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 but in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help 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 curcas in India supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.