The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks related to the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel engines. 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 but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use across markets and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually likewise begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 20% of India’s diesel demand 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 raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas growing 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 conserve 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 federal government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying complimentary seeds, and other centers. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not just supply a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.