'Biotechnology plays a major role in replacing fossil fuel'

Dr P Hariprasad, Assistant Professor, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi said that Biotechnology plays a major role in improving existing technologies to replace fossil fuel.

“The consumption rate of fossil resources across world has increased 50 per cent in the period of 1980 to 2004," he said. He was delivering talk on role of Biotechnology in future fuels in city on Sunday, organised by Mysore Science Foundation.

"By 2050 fossil fuel might end. Even if its available the price will be out of reach for common man. Though Solar, Wind, Geothermal, hydropower and tidal energy are being harvested from long back, still we have achieved only 3.75 per cent of world requirement,” he regretted.

Stating rise in fossil fuel consumption rises risk of global climate change, he said fossil fuel can be replaced with Biomass by converting it into energy. Only 8 per cent we have replaced in Bio Mass, and four per cent Solar, wind, hydropower, he added.

Stating increase in population has led to increase in pollution, he opined India-China have to think about this seriously and have to chalk out measures to prevent the increase in global warming.

“Using edible and cultivated crops bio diesel, bio fuel, is produced in foreign countries. Wheres in countries like India, conversion of edible plant parts into biofuel is not a practicable idea, as this might lead to shortage of food for growing population.”

Municipal Sold waste has become big problems in major cities. 30 per cent of sewage waste is treated in the country and 70 per cent is released to rivers. But, using sewage water effectively, four per cent of energy can be produced.

"Sewage are rich in nutrition. There are plants which purify the microbes in sewage water in different levels and more than 50 per cent of water can be reused after purification. Sewage treatment and energy product technology has to be implemented to beautify city,” he suggested.

One of the possible solutions for the above discussed problem is use of non edible plant parts for bio energy production, that is second generation biofuels. Biohydrogen and Algal oil are also considered as future fuels. Already, USA European countries are running vehicles using bio hydrogen.