The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be used 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 contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental risks 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 units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 utilized 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 biggest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the nation. India now
A study approximates that even if a mixing 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 government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not only offer a response to the difficulty 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
Jenny Slaton edited this page 2025-01-18 03:39:42 -05:00