The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil 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 consists of no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure form.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun exploring the opportunities to produce and use 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 normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to typical 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 stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the ecological threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 20% of India's diesel need 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 optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, 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 offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming however might reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.