The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal 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 motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has 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 satisfy 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not only provide a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but could our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.