The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers associated with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and less expensive alternative to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the chances 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 primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum costs and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian has used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 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 oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of several decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid 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 free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be checked out. It will not just offer a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.