Planting seeds for alternative fuel

SHIMOGA: In its bid to find alterative source of energy other than burning fossil fuel, Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering here has made a breakthrough in producing bio-diesel using locally available seeds. The bio-fuel development board encouraged the college to set up a plant and granted Rs 10.5 lakh.

The college built a plant and used Pongamia (honge seeds) as the basic raw material to extract the oil.

The production and test was successful. They found that the fuel is eco-friendly, increases the life of engine, and reduces sulphur and carbon dioxide emission.

The fuel is used to run six buses and other four-wheelers. Prof K L Sreepathi, of the mechanical department and the brain behind the project, says that besides pongamia, neem and jatropa seeds too can be used.

“We are experimenting on new types of oil seeds like karaveera and suabul to extract oil,” he added. He said 42 litres of bio-diesel can be produced from 200 kilo seeds and net cost of production of 42 litres will be Rs 1,762. Sreepathi said that the bio-diesel is available for public use and students are propagating its benefits and importance to public and farmers.

Vishwanath, an agricultural expert, said farmers benefit from the sale of seeds, use cake waste as it is a good source of manure.