The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats related to the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable option to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise started exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence 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 need any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop 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 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 utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve 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 federal government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.