The non-renewability, environmental concerns and health dangers related to the fossil fuels has caused expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the traditional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that might be used 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 however can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be used in its pure form.

Developed nations particularly United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might become a perfect cleaner and more affordable alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has also started exploring the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the country where veggie oils are reacted with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the reality that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, therefore having no net impact on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel runs in compression engines similar to normal petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different infrastructure for its storage and can be stored simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has actually taken up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government announced its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum capacity to produce biodiesels is from jatropha curcas oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of using jatropha curcas as a is that this plant can be grown in huge quantities in wastelands all throughout India needing extremely little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of several decades. The jatropha curcas seeds contain 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 ideal for the jatropha curcas growing in the nation. India now

A study estimates that even if a mixing effort of 2% Jatropha 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 decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking actions to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India providing complimentary seeds, subsidized loans and other facilities. India needs to now enhance its efforts to make the fullest use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides jatropha curcas, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be explored. It will not only offer a response to the obstacle of Global Warming however could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.