The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats connected with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. 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 but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure form.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage across industries and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started checking out the opportunities 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 usually) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish 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 intends to fulfill 20% of India's diesel need 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 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 as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of a number of decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable 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 achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Kennith Ferry edited this page 2025-01-16 15:05:19 +01:00