The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel engines. 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 but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also started checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason 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 fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.