The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage across markets and and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 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 raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas 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 big quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. 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 conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease 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 free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not just offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.