Emerging Scope for Biodiesel for Energy Security and Environmental Protection

--The global fuel crisis in the recent times has generated awareness amongst many countries of their vulnerability to oil embargoes and shortages. Considerable attention has been focused on the development of alternative fuel sources. The Motor vehicle population has also increased tremendously over the last decade in India. Environmental degradation is another outcome of growth in motor vehicle population. One of the strategies adopted to curb deteriorating environmental quality is the use of alternative fuels like Ethanol and biodiesel. Bio-Diesel is being looked upon as a renewable source of energy, which can partially substitute the diesel fuel. Special interest is being shown in view of the potential of this fuel to provide energy security and environment protection. Biodiesel, alkyl ester of fatty acids derived from vegetable oils, is emerging as a technically feasible, economically competitive and environmentally sustainable alternative to diesel. The base catalyzed continuous transesterification of vegetable oils having low viscosity, low free fatty acids and low saturated oilglycerides is currently the preferred process for biodiesel production. India, continue to have shortage of petroleum products including diesel. We cannot divert our edible oils for biodiesel production due to their continued shortage and are consciously developing biodiesel based on nonedible oils. The efforts being made to have the prospect of providing India a leadership position in renewable energy. However, massive efforts and active multi-agency participation are required for technocommercial success of biodiesel in India.