Biodiesel Production Cost Analysis from the Pongamia Pinnata: A Case Study in Yadagiri District of Karnataka-India

In Energy scenario fossil fuels plays dominant role. These fuels are scarce, non-renewable and exhaustive in nature. Biofuels acts as alternative source and they are renewable and eco-friendly. A case study was undertaken to know the production cost of Pongamia oil into biodiesel with a small 50 LPB biodiesel extraction unit and it was found that the net production cost of biodiesel from Pongamia seeds was of Rs. 56.54 per liter. The cost of feedstock was the major factor which occupies of 60 per cent of total cost of production fallowed by chemicals and operating cost. The production cost was reduced by the co-products such as seed cake and glycerin which accounts 21 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.