The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that could be used 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 combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its usage across industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the country 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 truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to regular petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established 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 basic materials for oil processing 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 advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life expectancy of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the difficulty of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.