The non-renewability, ecological concerns and health risks connected with the nonrenewable fuel sources has led to expedition of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising innovation, still in its infancy, that might show us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, jatropha curcas and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It includes no petroleum but can be blended with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries specifically United States and European Countries have actually currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its use across industries and verticals and could become an ideal cleaner and less expensive option to fuel, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also begun exploring the chances to produce and use bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are currently working in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol generally) to produce bio-diesel.

The primary factor for the increasing demand for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net influence on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like regular petroleum diesel and for this reason can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored much like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum rates and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has used up efforts to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to fulfill 20% of India's diesel demand with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible vegetable oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant raw products 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 greatest advantage of using jatropha curcas as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in huge amounts in wastelands all throughout India needing very little water in contrast to other money crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful 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 curcas growing in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% jatropha curcas based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will save around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will generate around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and assistance in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of jatropha curcas in India supplying free seeds, and other centers. India needs to now reinforce 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 need to likewise be checked out. It will not only supply a response to the challenge of Global Warming however could decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.