The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks associated with the fossil fuels has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could show us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease 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 contains no petroleum however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for usage or might be utilized in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have already made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage across industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has also begun checking out the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently operating in the country where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines just like normal petroleum diesel and thus can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the environmental hazards of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually used up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. 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 raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production but 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 biggest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of a number of years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has actually determined 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. India now

A research study approximates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is achieved in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and aid in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel . Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil ought to also be checked out. It will not just provide a response to the challenge of Global Warming but could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.