The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, 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 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 might be used in its pure type.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has likewise started exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net impact on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, 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 fulfill 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 and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of a number of decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 steps to motivate the growing of jatropha curcas in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.