The non-renewability, ecological issues and health threats associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the conventional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from veggie oil or animal-fat that might be used to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc 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 used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its use across markets and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and more affordable option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun checking out the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the nation where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines much like diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum costs and the environmental risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims 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 maximum capacity 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 basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison 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 thought about 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 curcas growing in the nation. India now

A research study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid 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 in India providing free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just offer an answer to the challenge of Global Warming however might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.