The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has actually resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish 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 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 curcas oil - a non-edible 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 big quantities in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of numerous years. 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 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 attained 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 decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.