Bio Diesel Plant

Bio Diesel is a renewable source of energy which can be used in any existing and unmodified diesel
engine. Bio Diesel is eco-friendly which is alternative to diesel fuel prepared from vegetable oils and
animal fats that is a renewable energy source. It is biodegradable and conserving natural resources. It is
a replacement and alternative fuel resources for diesel and petrol which is ideal for heavily polluted
cities. The chemical process by which bio diesel is made is called transesterification in which the
glycerine is separated from the fat or vegetable oil.

As India is considered to be a diesel deficit nation, biodiesel is considered to be a good substitute for
conventional resources. The capital cost for setting up a bio diesel plant depends whether the starting
point of the bio diesel plant is the vegetable oil or is an integrated bio diesel plant. Where the starting
point of the bio diesel plant is vegetable oil the setting up of bio diesel plant would cost about Rs 30-35
lakhs per day capacity and for integrated bio diesel plant, the capital cost for setting up of bio diesel
plant would cost about Rs 50 lakhs per day capacity.

Bio Diesel in India

The first Bio Diesel policy was announced in India on 11TH November 2008 by the Bio Diesel Mission
which was started by the Government of India in 2003. The Union Cabinet gave the approval for
National Policy on Bio Diesel and also approved for the setting up of a BioDiesel Coordination
Committee and BioDiesel Steering Committee. The Committees were headed by the Prime Minister and
was set up to provide high level coordination and policy guidance on different aspects of biofuel
development, promotion and utilization. This policy identified Jatropha Caracas as the most suitable
tree-borne oilseed for bio diesel production. The policy further envisages that BioDiesel and Bio ethanol
maybe brought under the ambit of Declared Goods for their unrestricted movement within and outside
the state and no taxes and duties should be levied on bio diesel.

At present the Prime Minister of India has approved the National Policy on BioFuels, 2018. Some of the
Salient features are:-.

 This Policy identifies three generations of “Basic BioFuels” categorized as 1G, 2G and 3G.
 Expands the scope of raw materials for ethanol production.
 Allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol.
 Encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production.

India’s first refinery plant was set up in Pune that produces fuel oil from rice and wheat straw, cotton
stalk, cane trash and corn orbs. The main preferred raw material for biofuel in India is Jatropha crops
cultivated in degraded lands. The Jatropha plant seeds are very rich in oil and this oil is considered to be
excellent source of bio diesel. The State Bank of India provides a boost to the Jatropha cultivation by
giving loans of 1.3 billion rupees to the local farmers in India. The Indian Railways have also started to
use the oil from jatropha plants to power its diesel engine. Late Dr. Abdul Kalam was one of the strong
advocaters of jatropha cultivation for bio diesel production as it will last a lifespan.

Expected Benefits of Bio-diesel

 It is a renewable source of energy produced from organic materials which can be used again and
again.
 The production of biofuel can provide employment in rural areas which leads to the economic
development of the area and also solving the problem of unemployment problem.
 It is an eco-friendly energy source which can be used in cities producing pollutants thus reducing
pollution.
 Bio diesel produced less carbon emissions than traditional fuels which, makes them cleaner and
giving access to a cleaner environment.
 It can be used in existing diesel engines with no or little modifications and can replace fossil
fuels to become the most preferred primary transport energy source.
 Biodiesel becomes alternative source of fuels and reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers
of oil.

Disadvantages of Bio Diesel

 BioDiesels are made from vegetable and animal fats and therefore more demand of these
products may raise prices and create food crisis in the country.
 Maximum use of the fertilizers to grom more crops to produce biofuels may have devastating
effect on the environment. This can lead to soil erosion and land pollution.
 Biodiesel cleans dirt from the engines but this dirt gets collected fuel filter and clogs it which
may become a problem.
 It may lead to the problem of water shortage in some areas as the production of more crops
needs more water.
 Production of biodiesel may cause an increase in Nitrogen Oxide emissions which, may lead to
acid rain.
 Biodiesel is not widely and evenly distributed in the country as compared to petroleum diesel.