Jatropha Oil - A Major part of India's Biofuel Future

'India is uniquely poised to tap eco-friendly alternative fuels. Jatropha oil has been used in India for several decades as a fuel substitute in remote rural and forest communities. Biofuel development in India revolves around cultivating and processing Jatropha plant seeds, which are rich in oil -- up to 40%. Jatropha oil is carbon-neutral and its large-scale production will improve India's emission profile. Moreover, it can be used directly after extraction without the need for refinement.'

'The Jatropha plant can be cultivated in wastelands, providing an additional source of income to farmers. In 2009, the Indian government announced its National Biofuel Policy with a goal of meeting 20% of India's diesel demand with plant-derived fuel by 2017. The government has identified 400,000 sq. km of land where Jatropha can be grown. Private players Hindustan Petroleum and Maharashtra State Farming jointly set up a Jatropha seed-based biodiesel venture. Chhattisgarh is on its way to becoming a biofuel self-reliant state by 2015.'

'Biofuel technology is still young, but it will expand exponentially over the next two decades as we get closer to the day when fossil fuels are exhausted. The market for alternative fuels will continue to grow at about 10% annually in the coming decades to replace one-third of transportation fuels. China and India are set to dominate Asia's alternative-fuel market.'

'India's total biodiesel requirement is projected to grow to between 4 million and 5 million tons by 2015. However, the market is still emerging and has a long way to go before it catches up with the global competitors. To reduce dependence on petroleum and coal, the International Energy Agency has set a goal of using biofuels to meet more than a quarter of world demand for transportation fuels by 2050.'

'Indonesia, China and Malaysia are dominant in biodiesel production, but India is likely to lead Asia's biodiesel growth, according to Lux Research's recent report, "Planning for the Long-term in Asia Pacific Alternative Fuel Markets."'

http://asia.nikkei.com/magazine/201...-Aminabhavi-Biofuels-promise-a-cleaner-future