The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats associated with the fossil fuels has resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that could show 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 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 consists of no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. have actually found its use across markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum rates and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced 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 raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however 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 huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of a number of decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered 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 growing in the country. India now

A research study approximates 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 generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.