The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards connected with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived 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 includes no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like normal petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum costs and the ecological risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand 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 products for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of a number of 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 actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of jatropha curcas in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.