The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.
Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored simply like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.
Globally, edible veggie 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 biggest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
