The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from veggie oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across industries and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds include 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 appropriate for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance 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 need to also be explored. It will not just supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.