Leena Mehendale and Ranjan Goswami
The
burning of fossil fuels at the current rate is likely to create an
environmental crisis. In
Blends of up to 20% bio-diesel (mixed with petroleum diesel) can be used in
nearly all diesel and most storage and distribution
equipment. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any
engine modifications. Bio-diesel can provide the same payload capacity as
diesel.
India consumes about nine million tones of petrol and 42 million tonnes of diesel, the crude import bill in the region of Rs. 1,10,000 crore. A blend of
ethanol in petrol and bio-diesel in diesel will, therefore, make a big
difference both in our import bill as well as in the environment impact.
Bio-diesel has 10% built-in oxygen and properties that would help it burn
efficiently, which would, in turn, lead to less use of fossil fuel. As a
tree-based source, it would mitigate the greenhouse effects.
Jatropha curcas has been
identified for
to bio-diesel through a simple chemical process called
trans-esterification. While large plants would be
useful for centralized production, smaller plants can also be started at the
village level.
Jatropha plantation on wasteland can rebuild our afforestation programme. One
plant of Jatropha can offset 0.15 tonne
of carbon dioxide per year. Assuming the presence of 200 plants in a hectare, a lakh hectares of wasteland
planted with jatropha can fetch 27 million carbon
credit points for the country.
The current annual petro-diesel consumption in the
country is 40 million tones. For blending 5% bio-diesel in
petro-diesel,
We need to push bio-diesel in the market. The use of bio-diesel is hampered by
ad hoc production and high cost that lowers demand. If we ensure steady flow of
demand, it would build up sustained production and supply and bring down the
cost. Farmers are not encouraged to grow Jatropha
when the demand for bio-diesel is low. The vicious cycle of high price leading
to low demand and non-establishment of a supply chain, which in turn results in
high prices, can be broken by an assurance of steady purchase by the
government, especially oil companies.
Initial incentives have been given to promote green fuels through various
methods. It is proposed that a limited subsidy be given on a reducing scale for
a limited period. This would help in establishing supply chains quickly.
The proposed model of subsidy envisages the purchase of bio-diesel at a landed
price of Rs. 40 per litre
for the first six months, then Rs. 35 for next six
months and Rs. 30 for another six. There after, it may be purchased at a minimum
support price of Rs. 25 per litre.
The
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) has already established a
national biofuel center, with a strong website means
to work as an information bank. PCRA has developed institutional linkages for
research and development in the field of biofuels
with Indian Oil Corporation, Delhi College of Engineering and other R&D
Institutes.
What is required now is to propagate bio-diesel as a viable crop to farmers and
as a viable fuel to auto users.
The Times of
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Leena Mehendale is the Executive Director and Ranjan Goswami joint Director in
PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas, GoI