The non-renewability, environmental issues and health hazards associated with the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the conventional ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels originated from veggie oil or animal-fat that could be utilized to run diesel engines. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha and so on can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It consists of no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or could be utilized in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have already made significant advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout industries and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and cheaper alternative to gas, diesel and nonrenewable fuel sources. India has actually also started checking out the opportunities to produce and use bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already working in the country where veggie oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol normally) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, hence having no net effect on the environment. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines similar to diesel and hence can be used with little or no engine adjustments. Biodiesel do not need any different facilities for its storage and can be stored just like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy demand in the country, increasing petroleum costs and the ecological hazards of nonrenewable fuel sources, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to establish the Bio Diesel Technology in India and established more oil processing systems. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which aims to meet 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 materials 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 greatest advantage of using Jatropha as a basic material is that this plant can be grown in substantial quantities in wastelands all throughout India requiring very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial life-span of numerous years. The Jatropha seeds consist of 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has recognized 400,000 square kilometres of land appropriate for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A research study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained 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 reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the cultivation of Jatropha in India offering free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the maximum use of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for drawing out biodiesel from vegetable oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil should likewise be checked out. It will not just provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but could reduce our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.