Jatropha –Biodiesel – Aviation Fuel
Since the carbon dioxide released when Jatropha oil is burned was originally removed from the atmosphere as the Jatropha plant grew, Jatropha oil is a carbon-neutral fuel that does not contribute to the accumulation of atmospheric CO2. Consequently, a significant portion of McNear International LLC, revenues will come from development and operations in the carbon credit markets. According to the EIA’s annual report, demand for crude petroleum is forecast to increase 37% by 2030 to 118 million barrels per day. Accordingly, the worldwide conventional oil supply is estimated to be depleted within 40-60 years. Most importantly, there is widespread consensus that we are within a few years – before or after – the peak in conventional oil reserves. Prices of non-renewable commodities, like crude oil, rise significantly as the inventory, or reserves of the commodity decrease. Most experts project a continuing rise, apart from short-term fluctuations, in the price of oil. Because Biofuel are a substitute for petroleum, its market is closely tied to that of petro fuels. The properties described below make Jatropha one of the lowest, if not the lowest, cost means of McNear’s Int. production. Analysis suggests that it could be used to produce fuel for approximately $43 a barrel.
Jatropha Plant, Pods, and Seeds
Jatropha is a multi-purpose crop that can best be used to produce biofuel and at the same time alleviate deforestation and restore degraded soil. It is a perennial tree native to Central and South America. Several hundred years ago, the seeds were distributed and have adapted throughout the equatorial belt. The figure below shows the Jatropha plant, pods, and seeds. Jatropha holds significant promise as an alternative energy source as it is an extremely efficient biofuel feedstock. Jatropha can grow on marginal land and in unfavorable conditions or areas where food crops are normally not grown. It requires little nutrients or water, though it is higher yielding when well hydrated and fertilized. The plant is resistant to drought and pests and its golf ball-sized seeds contain from 30 to 40 percent oil depending upon varietal.
Jatropha can be intercropped, and is a good complement to many other crops such as citrus and coconut. Due to these properties, it can grow on marginal, fallow land, thus reducing the need for crop substitution and deforestation. Jatropha is found in the tropics and subtropics and best grows within 15degrees north and south of the equator, although it does well in lower temperatures and can even withstand a light frost. It can survive long periods of drought and requires no pesticides. Jatropha planted from seed can produce over5, 000 kg of seeds in the third year or up to 2000 liters (>500gallons) of oil per hectare, will bear fruit the first season and will continue to produce fruit for 30 to 50 years. The plant can produce multiple yields per year and produce a mature, full-production stand after 3 to 4 years.
When we speak of Jatropha biofuel, we mean biodiesel produced by transesterification. Along with ethanol, biodiesel is already widely produced from various feedstocks around the world. However, biodiesel is unsuitable for use as jet fuel, primarily because its freezing point is too high. The large majority of Jatropha planting projects today are targeting biodiesel, which is the larger overall market.
Following each of these processes, the oil is put through an isomerization process to make the right hydrocarbon chain (selective cracking). This puts kinks into the hydrocarbon chain which prevent “stacking” of the hydrocarbon chains that causes gelling at low temps. The resulting fuel is functionally the same as petroleum-based jet fuel, with the especially important characteristic of not freezing until -70.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-57 degrees Celsius) better than the Jet A1 specification of -52.6 degrees F (-47 degrees C).
The following characteristics apply to both Jatropha biodiesel and jet fuel:
Jatropha biofuel provides widespread environmental benefits yielding 20 times the energy requires to produce it. Most other feedstock - for example, corn – requires nearly as much energy to create as they produce. Like other biofuel, Jatropha has excellent combustion properties while significantly reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases. Jatropha diesel fuel produces half the unburned hydrocarbon emissions and one-third of the particulate emissions produced by diesel fuel derived from crude petroleum, according to a 2004 Daimler study. Crushed and processed Jatropha seed oil can be used to create B100 biodiesel which will operate in a standard diesel engine and the remaining biomass can be used to power electricity plants.
From one to two million hectares of Jatropha are expected to be planted annually worldwide with more than 80% of identified project areas in Asia, according to experts polled by the GEXSI Survey 2008. Currently planned plantations will eventually create over 50,000 kilo-hectares (kha) of Jatropha plantations according to Nexant Chem Systems.
Global Jatropha Demand
Driven by climbing crude oil prices and energy costs, the Jatropha industry structure is expected to change dramatically to meet accelerating government and consumer demand for biofuels. According to experts polled by the GEXSI Survey 2008, on a global scale political support for Jatropha cultivation is growing as approximately 50 governments worldwide have announced national biofuel targets. In many countries, specific policies have also served a strategic role to promote Jatropha as a means to secure energy supply, improve the livelihoods of the rural poor, or to protect the environment. Jatropha will see enormous growth as 5 million hectares are expected to be planted by 2010 and 13 million hectares by 2015.
