The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health hazards related to the fossil fuels has actually resulted in exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. An appealing innovation, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries particularly United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and could emerge as an ideal cleaner and cheaper alternative to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has actually also begun exploring 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 typically) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary reason for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines simply like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not require any different infrastructure for its storage and can be kept similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, rising petroleum prices and the environmental hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The greatest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a helpful lifespan of several years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are thought about to be an outstanding source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create 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 steps to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be checked out. It will not just provide a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and add to our own economy.