The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health threats related to the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for usage or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and less expensive option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production 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 greatest benefit of utilizing Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha growing 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 conserve 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 government is taking steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India supplying free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not only offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.