The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from vegetable 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 use or could be utilized in its pure type.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have currently made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use across industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the opportunities to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to .

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines just like typical petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum prices and the environmental risks of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has used up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government announced 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 veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of utilizing jatropha curcas as a raw product 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 beneficial lifespan of numerous decades. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually identified 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a mixing initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate 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 government is taking actions to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must also be checked out. It will not just supply a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.