HPCL: Biodiesel plant

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from animal or vegetable oils as a blend in petroleum diesel. Biodiesel has lower toxicity and tailpipe emissions as compared to conventional diesel. India’s National Policy on Biofuels 2018 recommends a target of blending 5% biodiesel in diesel by 2030(1). Currently, the biodiesel blending percentage in diesel is less than 0.1%. The government is also exploring options to bring in a mandate on compulsory mixing of advanced biofuels in petroleum. Biodiesel could be obtained from a variety of sources like vegetable and seed oils, used cooking oil and palm oil. At present, the main raw material used in India is palm stearin which is imported. Biodiesel is then manufactured through a conversion process. Raw material prices of Palm stearin fluctuate and hence the biodiesel manufacturers are unable to offer Biodiesel at competitive prices. Thus, the percentage of biodiesel blending remains low across the country. This project aims to look evaluation sources of raw materials, methods of collection, biodiesel production techniques and cost estimations of setting up a plant.