The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure form.

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

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using Jatropha as a raw 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-span of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing 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 produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be explored. It will not only offer a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.