The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. 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 but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats 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 units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 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 used as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal 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 utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all across India needing really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help 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 offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out 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 obstacle of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.