The non-renewability, ecological issues and health dangers related to the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines simply like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 used as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of several decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study estimates 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 assistance in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be checked out. It will not just supply an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.