The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health threats related to the fossil fuels has caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. 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 kind.

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

The primary factor for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are eco-friendly and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be saved much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, rising and the environmental dangers of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to meet 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable 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 potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest benefit of using Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India requiring extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful life-span of numerous decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help 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 offering complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now reinforce its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be explored. It will not just supply an answer to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.