1 Biodiesel Technology Need of the Hour for India
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The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats connected with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually likewise started the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives 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 aims to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of several years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not only supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.