The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure kind.
Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up 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 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 maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance 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 supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Katherine Angulo edited this page 2025-01-12 13:44:13 +08:00