A biodiesel plant could be set up to provide biodiesel at a low cost to the local area, running off locally produced crops, such as the common 'weed' Jatropha. This production plant should be able to run on locally produced biomass and/or waste. The aim is to design a plant that would continuously produce biodiesel throughout the year.

The biodiesel would then be effectively used for transportation and/or a back up for electricity. This would mean that it could be used in many engines and generators with near or complete combustion. As of summer 2005, biodiesel that has been created is of a crude form and when combusted a lot of soot is produced, indicating inadequate combustion. A crucial part of this project would be to distil the crude biodiesel to a sufficient level, so that it can be efficiently used in engines.

A biodiesel generator would give the community an alternate source of fuel and constant power and it would provide jobs for a portion of the community. Jobs would include constructing the plant, maintaining the plant and selling the biodiesel to the local community. There would also be indirect jobs provided by a biodiesel generator. There could be a demand for more biomass and more crops would have to be grown, creating further profits for farmers or more jobs in the community. This would help to stabilise the local economy, making money stay in the area, as the community would use local resources to create their power. An ideal solution would be to produce biodiesel at such a cheap price that it could replace any reliance on the unreliable Indian power grid.

A test case for a biodiesel plant could be developed either at Vigyan Ashram or at B.R.Nagarkar's farm, which has a substantial biodiesel crop plantation, as of summer 2005. Both parties would be eager to pilot a suitable solution and with clear designs and simple instructions could create and maintain a biodiesel plant. Then the idea could be used by other local entrepreneurs.

Jatropha plants at the biodiesel plantation

The biodiesel also should be available at a lower cost than it is currently (Rs. 36/litre). This would benefit everyone in the community that uses transport, which would be the vast majority of people. The proposal would especially benefit local businesses, which use transport as an integral part of their day-to-day work.

Vigyan Ashram found that a Moha seed was effective in producing biodiesel. Unfortunately this took several years to grow and would be far too inefficient for the local community to use (see below for more detail on seeds).

A proposed solution should have a simple refining method and should be able to use a more sustainable crop as a fuel source which takes only a season, as compared to years, to mature. The plantation owner uses a seed called Jatropha (amongst others, see below) which is a common weed across India, so is therefore cheap. It can grow in one season but only lasts for 45 years.

The Jatropha Plant

Plant names (in Marathi, unless stated)

Earndi

Jatropha (English name)
This plant produces crops continuously once it begins producing seeds. Too much rain causes discoloring of leaves. It is a robust plant and can grow in summer and winter conditions. It is present almost everywhere in India (and so it is perceived as a weed).
Lifespan: 45 years.
Selling Price of seeds: Rs. 50 /kg of seeds.
The crops take 15 months to produce seeds. One plant (tree) costs Rs. 20 from local nursery.
The plantation owner has 3 acres and 4000 plants.
The crops produce 5 - 25 kg of seeds per year per plant.
150 ml/week minimum of water is required per plant. The optimum amount is 500 ml/week per plant.
The plantation owner users 5000 l/ day from self-constructed dam.
Water system provides all-year watering.

Moha
Lifespan: 200 years
Takes seven years to produce seeds - lost profit.
Requires further 2 years to grow in a nursery.

Karnj
Lifespan: 70 years
Takes seven years to produce seeds - lost profit.
Requires further 2 years to grow in a nursery.

Unda

Jojoba

Items mentioned in the Inventory, particularly
-Metals
-Cement
-Petrol barrels

For more information on this project, please contact engindia@mit.edu.