The non-renewability, environmental issues and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from veggie oil or animal-fat that might 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 however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop 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 satisfy 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 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 needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 actions to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, oil and palm oil need to also be explored. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.