The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel motors. 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 blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 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 used as the pre-dominant basic materials 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 biggest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save 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 encourage the growing of jatropha curcas in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not only supply an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.