The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that might 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 contains no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.
The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop 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 vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a expectancy of a number of decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the nation. India now
A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps 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 opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.
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Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour For India
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