Alternative Fuels From Renewable Sources

The source of fuel is finite, non-renewable and ever depleting. India is heavily hooked in to fossil fuels for its energy requirements and, therefore, must identify renewable fuel sources which might help reduce import of petroleum crude. 

There are several important steps that the country must fancy carry over research on renewable sources for production of alternative fuel and reaching the output to the remotest corners in order that the poorest of the poor are often provided fuel at a reasonable price. 

The only non-renewable solid fuel that is still controlling the world’s energy sector is coal, in sight of the restricted utilisation of atomic energy . The replacement of liquid fuel may be a near difficult task within the coming several decades. So, the planet is slowly towards the utilization of hydrogen because the replacement of liquid fuels.

During the last several decades, technologists and energy experts are fixing efforts towards developing liquid fuels having very similar chemical and physical properties as gas , coal and other carbonaceous fuels. But which are the fuels which will actually be mentioned as “Alternative Fuels”? Presently the unanimously accepted “alternative fuels” are methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, Compressed gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and bio-diesel which meet several objectives such as dependency on petroleum crude which is imported, non-renewable resource, reduce air emissions and overall increase fuel utilization efficiency. 

Renewable sources like corn and other agricultural products are used for production of biodiesel and ethanol fulfilling the sustainability characteristics. However, thanks to the volatile market of petroleum crude these are costlier than conventional gasoline and diesel. 

Technology exists today to be used of CNG and LPG in automobiles and buses and trucks are run in many urban areas of Asia and Europe on CNG and LPG. However, use of clean-burning gaseous fuels such as CNG, LPG and hydrogen for personal vehicles is restricted .The major concern for any quite fuel is its sustainability – is it renewable or non-renewable? of these alternative fuels are often produced from a fossil fuel source or natural resource . It is obvious that improvement in industrial techniques for cost-effective production of fuel from renewable sources is the major challenge within the present 

scenario.

Types of Alternative Fuels

1. Ethanol: 

Primarily alcohol is produced from fermentation and further distillation of crops like corn, barley, sugarcane bagasse, wheat, etc. it's blended with gasoline to increase octane level and improve 

emission quality.

2. Natural Gas: 

it's already in use in several countries through utilities that provide gas to homes and it burns clean. Cars and trucks with specially designed engines run through gas with less harmful emissions.

3. Propane: 

the opposite name of propane is Liquefied Petroleum gas (LPG); it is a byproduct of petroleum refining and gas processing. It is widely used as cooking gas and a popular alternative fuel.

4. Biodiesel: 

it's one among the fuels whose source is usually renewable. It are often produced from vegetable 

oils or animal fats and also the cooking wastes of restaurants. Vehicle engines are often converted to run by pure biodiesel and it's also blended with petroleum diesel to run in modified engines also.

5. Methanol: 

one among this day important alternative fuels – much attention has been paid on cost-effective production of methanol, which can be used as a source of alternative fuel. it's a crucial raw material for production of fuel cell grade hydrogen to run hydrogen powered vehicles.

6. Electricity: 

Electricity are often used as a transportation alternative fuel for battery-powered electric and fuel-cell vehicles.

7. Hydrogen: 

It are often mixed with natural gas to make an alternate fuel which may be utilized in some types of internal combusting engines. Hydrogen is that the fuel for fuel-cell vehicles and is produced by the petrochemical reaction.

8. P–Series Fuels: 

These are blends of ethanol, LNG and methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHE) in different proportions. The P–Series alternative fuels are clear and have high octane rating with flexibility of choice of vehicles. it's the choice of addition to normal gasoline.