India energy supplies : Case study : Jatropha as a bio fuel in India

Key idea on WJEC specification 1.6 Key question : What are the environmental challenges and solutions facing India? 1.6 Key question : What are the environmental challenges and solutions facing India? The causes and consequences of the need for energy supplies The causes and consequences of the need for energy supplies

Energy supplies India a perspective In 2006, India was the sixth largest oil consumer in the world. In 2006, India was the sixth largest oil consumer in the world. India lacks sufficient domestic energy resources and must import much of its growing energy requirements. India lacks sufficient domestic energy resources and must import much of its growing energy requirements.

Jatropha as a bio fuel in India In 2009 BP announced it is investing almost £32m in a jatropha joint venture with UK bio fuels firm D1 Oils. In 2009 BP announced it is investing almost £32m in a jatropha joint venture with UK bio fuels firm D1 Oils. Once dried out and crushed, the seeds yield oil which can be burned in almost any diesel engine - with no modification. Once dried out and crushed, the seeds yield oil which can be burned in almost any diesel engine - with no modification.

What are its advantages? 1.Impact on climate change :Bio fuel plants like jatropha absorb carbon-dioxide while they are growing, effectively cancelling out the carbon dioxide they release when they burn. 1.Impact on climate change :Bio fuel plants like jatropha absorb carbon-dioxide while they are growing, effectively cancelling out the carbon dioxide they release when they burn. 2. They could allow developing countries like India to be more self-sufficient rather than depending on oil and gas imports. 2. They could allow developing countries like India to be more self-sufficient rather than depending on oil and gas imports. 3. Jatropha can grow in poor soils and needs very little water to survive. 3. Jatropha can grow in poor soils and needs very little water to survive.

What are the issues with bio fuels and sustainability? Subsistence farming - growing food to eat - is still a widespread activity, jatropha could replace much-needed food crops, turning India into a monoculture. Subsistence farming - growing food to eat - is still a widespread activity, jatropha could replace much-needed food crops, turning India into a monoculture. The UN says basic food prices for poor countries are being pushed up by competition for land from bio fuels. The UN says basic food prices for poor countries are being pushed up by competition for land from bio fuels.

A report from the charity Grain amplifies recent warnings from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that some bio fuels produce hardly any carbon savings at all. A report from the charity Grain amplifies recent warnings from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that some bio fuels produce hardly any carbon savings at all. The Grain report says its research shows how governments and bio fuels firms in developing countries are collaborating to push indigenous people and peasant communities off their land. The Grain report says its research shows how governments and bio fuels firms in developing countries are collaborating to push indigenous people and peasant communities off their land.

Green energy According to the Indian government, the 2008/2009 economic slowdown in the financial sector offers an opportunity to develop new jobs in the green sector and grow a lower- carbon industrial sector According to the Indian government, the 2008/2009 economic slowdown in the financial sector offers an opportunity to develop new jobs in the green sector and grow a lower- carbon industrial sector Following India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change,,from 2009 all power utilities will have to source at least 5% of their power from renewable energy sources, with a one percent increase every year thereafter. Following India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change,,from 2009 all power utilities will have to source at least 5% of their power from renewable energy sources, with a one percent increase every year thereafter.

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