The non-renewability, environmental issues and health threats related to the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived 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 etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish 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 intends to satisfy 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 biggest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. 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 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 providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be checked out. It will not only offer an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.