The non-renewability, ecological issues and health risks related to the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that might 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 use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 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 utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant advantage of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative 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 aid in decrease 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 fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.