The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute 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 originated 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 consists of no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also started exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 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 used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the growing of jatropha curcas in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.