The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks related to the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand with 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 optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas 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 aid in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the growing of jatropha curcas in India supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just supply an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.