The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has actually led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be used 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 combined with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum costs and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. 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 maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. 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 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 in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be explored. It will not just offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.