The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. An appealing 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 and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel 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 most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of a number of decades. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha 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 help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.