About the Centre of Excellence - Biofuels

Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels having their source from biological raw material and have been proven to be good substitutes for crude oil in the energy sector. The biofuels namely biodiesel and ethanol are gaining world wide acceptance as a solution for problems of environmental degradation, energy security, restricting imports, rural employment and agricultural economy. Use of biodiesel as substitute for diesel; requires very little or no engine modification at up to 20 % blend and minor modification for higher percentage of blends. In recent times, increasing interest has been arising across the nation towards the utility of non-edible oilseeds in particular oil ofJatropha curcas as a source of bio-diesel. Jatropha curcas, which grows widely in the tropics, is acclaimed as a promising biofuel crop ideally suited for growing in the less productive lands of our country.

Hence, the current Niche Area of Excellence on “Improvement and Popularization of Biofuel” was identified to generate alternative fuel such as Biodiesel from the feed stock of Jatropha curcas and other Tree Borne Oil Seeds. Centre of Excellence in Biofuels was established as a multidisciplinary research facility at Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. 

It started functioning with financial assistance from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi under the research project on  Niche area of Excellence- Strengthening and development  of Agricultural Education” Improvement and Popularization of Biofuels”. The centre 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. Centre of Excellence in Biofuels is one of the leading and hi-tech research and training units in India in the field of biofuel.

Objectives