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Research and Development Projects
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels was established as a multidisciplinary research facility in June 2006 at Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore. The centre also plays a pioneering role in developing standard Jatropha cultivation practices and biodiesel production process and large scale dissemination of the research outcome to the user groups for wider adoption.
1. ICAR funded scheme: Strengthening and Development of Agricultural Education –“Improvement and Popularization of Biofuels’’
Progress made:
- The centre has assembled 11 species of Jatropha as germplasm for improvement and six hybrids are under Multi Locational Trials (MLTs)
- The centre has standardized the package of practices for Jatropha cultivation
- The centre has developed a hand operated as well as power operated decorticator adapted for shelling Jatropha seeds manually.
- To ease the process of oil extraction, seed has to be partially crushed. Hence in the mini crusher has been developed.
- A commercially available oil extraction unit along with a small steam boiler has been developed to extract oil from Jatropha seeds and the filter press has also been developed.
- The centre has developed and franchised a transesterification unit of 250 litres per day production capacity.
- The centre has conducted trainings to farmers, trainers from line departments, representatives of biofuel industries and scientists from all over the country for popularization of Jatropha cultivation.
2. Promotion of cultivation of Jatropha in Tamil Nadu
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels proposed and is implementing a state government funded project entitled “Promotion of Cultivation of Jatropha in Tamil Nadu” to bring 1,00,000 hectare under Jatropha cultivation in different districts of Tamil Nadu over a period of 5 years in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University @ 20,000 ha every year.Centre of Excellence in Biofuels has been entrusted with the responsibility of producing 332 lakh seedlings to cover 20,000 hectares every year.Centre of Excellence in Biofuels is coordinating jatropha seedling production in this programme through 15 TNAU centres as well as by outsourcing seedling production through 11 Government identified biofuel companies Training will be provided annually to 2,000 farmers, 700 Agricultural Officers/ Assistant Agricultural Officers and 200 NGO’s / Biofuel Entrepreneurs on Jatropha Cultivation and Biodiesel Production.
3. Venture capital scheme: Production and sale of seeds and seedlings of major Tree Borne Oilseeds
It has been planned to produce and sell 25 tonnes of Jatropha seeds to the stakeholders.
Ongoing Research Projects
Sl.No |
Title of the project |
Investigators |
Funding agency |
Duration |
1. |
ICAR- “Improvement and Poupularization of Biofuels” |
Dr.M.Paramathma
Professor and Nodal Officer,
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels
Dr. P. Venkatachalam
Professor and Head,
Department of Bioenergy |
ICAR |
6years |
2. |
TN Government “Promotion of Cultivation of Jatropha in Tamil Nadu |
Dr.M.Paramathma
Professor and Nodal Officer,
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels |
Tamil Nadu Government |
5 years |
3. |
Production and sale of seeds, seedlings of major TBOs. |
Dr.M.Paramathma
Professor and Nodal Officer,
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels |
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University |
5 Years |
4. |
Development of Elite planting material and Model plantation in major TBO’s |
Dr.M.Paramathma
Professor and Nodal Officer,
Centre of Excellence in Biofuels |
NOVOD Board |
2 Years |
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