The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be checked out. It will not just provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.