The non-renewability, ecological issues and health hazards related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to substitute the standard ones. A promising technology, still in its infancy, that could reveal us the method to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels obtained from grease or animal-fat that might 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 consists of no petroleum but can be combined with petroleum diesel for use or could be used in its pure form.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have currently made considerable advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually found its usage throughout industries and verticals and might emerge as an ideal cleaner and less expensive alternative to gas, diesel and . India has also started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A number of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already functioning in the nation where vegetable oils are reacted 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 just like regular petroleum diesel and thus can be used with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not require any separate facilities for its storage and can be saved simply like the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, rising petroleum rates and the ecological risks of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has actually taken up initiatives to establish 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 fulfill 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 utilized as the pre-dominant raw products for oil processing and biodiesel production however in India the optimal potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The most significant benefit of using Jatropha as a raw material is that this plant can be grown in substantial amounts in wastelands all across India needing very little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a useful 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 determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the country. 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 create around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The federal government is taking actions to encourage the growing of jatropha curcas in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now enhance its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the opportunities for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil must likewise be explored. It will not only provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our reliance on foreign oil and add to our own economy.