The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks connected with the fossil fuels has resulted in expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that could be used to run diesel engines. 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 mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout markets and verticals and might emerge as a perfect cleaner and cheaper option to petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise begun checking out the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation 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 fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to typical petroleum diesel and hence can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising petroleum prices and the environmental threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of a number of years. The jatropha curcas seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished 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 federal government is taking steps to motivate the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be explored. It will not only offer an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but might reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.