The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health hazards associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be utilized 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 contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country 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 climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the ecological dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 20% of India's diesel demand 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 most significant benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of several decades. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming but might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.