The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might 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 contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be stored simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological threats 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 intends to satisfy 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum capacity 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 as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.