The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks associated with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard 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 vegetable oil 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 includes no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure form.
Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic 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 greatest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only provide a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
