The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats related to the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities 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 hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken 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 satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 benefit of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying 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 extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be checked out. It will not just offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.