The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum costs and the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.