The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers connected with the fossil fuels has actually led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure type.

Developed nations especially United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

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

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 utilized as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional 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 research study estimates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas 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 help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to likewise be explored. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.