The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. 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 but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.
Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.
The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.
Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum costs and the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has 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 intends to satisfy 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 huge quantities in wastelands all across India needing extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now
A research study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be explored. It will not just supply 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
latanyaparadis edited this page 2025-01-18 13:16:41 +08:00