The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the fossil fuels has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel motors. 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 mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different facilities for its storage and can be kept just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum prices and the environmental dangers of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its ‘National Biofuel Policy’ on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life expectancy of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not just offer a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.