The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health dangers associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has actually caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel motors. 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 use or might be used in its pure kind.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have actually currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage across markets and verticals and might become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. 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 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 utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India needing extremely little water in comparison to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the nation. 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 save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce 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 actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now its efforts to make the max use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the difficulty of Global Warming however might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.