The non-renewability, environmental issues and health risks connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels derived from vegetable oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum however can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure kind.

Developed nations specifically United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its use throughout markets and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the fact that biodiesels are renewable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any different for its storage and can be kept much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the environmental risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing systems. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to satisfy 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 basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal 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 as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in big quantities in wastelands all across India requiring very little water in contrast to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful life-span of numerous years. The jatropha curcas seeds include 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres of land suitable for the jatropha curcas growing in the country. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is accomplished in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to motivate the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should also be checked out. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.