The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 contains no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage across industries and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends 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 materials 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 most significant advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House 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 requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just provide an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.