The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be used 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 consists of no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure type.
Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the nation where vegetable oils are responded 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, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum costs and the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts 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 intends to meet 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.
Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of several years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent 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 research study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
