The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed 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 etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure type.
Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure 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 ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop 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 satisfy 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 optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India needing extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of a number of decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 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 suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now
A study estimates that even if a effort of 2% jatropha curcas 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 aid in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum 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 must likewise be explored. It will not just provide a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
Yvonne Clouse edited this page 2025-01-14 12:32:03 +03:00