The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health risks associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum however can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout industries and verticals and could emerge as a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to petrol, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like typical petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up efforts to develop 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 meet 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life expectancy of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding 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 study estimates that even if a mixing effort 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 assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India supplying totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to likewise be explored. It will not just provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.