The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.
Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum rates and the environmental risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. 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 products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The include 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the nation. India now
A research study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Daniel Landsborough edited this page 2025-01-12 20:18:49 +01:00