The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from grease or animal-fat that might 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 however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the nation where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more units. The Government announced 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 used as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal 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 curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India needing really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a blending initiative of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage 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 also be checked out. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.