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First ever sustainability assessment of Jatropha plantations - Sustainability is a key success factor for biofuels. However, the Jatropha industry lacks experience in assessing the sustainability of the production of Jatropha. The project “Towards sustainability certification of Jatropha biofuels in Mozambique”, implemented by the Jatropha Alliance, now tackles this issue for the first time ever. > read more

23 July 2010 Report finds bioenergy production can expand across Africa without displacing food > read more

7 July 2010 Airlines Going Green? Waterland International to Deliver its First Shipment of Jatropha Oil for Use by the EU Airline Industry > read more

7 June 2010 Global airline industry soars toward recovery > read more

Report finds bioenergy production can expand across Africa without displacing food

Crops can be produced for bioenergy on a significant scale in west, eastern and southern Africa without doing damage to food production or natural habitats, according to a report produced by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Imperial College London, and CAMCO International. The study was released today at the 5th African Agriculture Science Week in Burkina Faso.

 "If approached with the proper policies and processes and with the inclusion of all the various stakeholders, bioenergy is not only compatible with food production; it can also greatly benefit agriculture in Africa," said Dr. Rocio Diaz-Chavez, the report's lead author and Research Fellow at Imperial College London. "Bioenergy production can bring investments in land, infrastructure, and human resources that could help unlock Africa's latent potential and positively increase food production."

The conclusions of the report, Mapping Food and Bioenergy in Africa, were drawn from a review of existing research and case studies of biofuel production and policy in six countries: Senegal, Mali, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, and Mozambique. Among the report's findings is that there is enough land available to significantly increase the cultivation of crops, such as sugar cane, sorghum, and jatropha for biofuels without diminishing food production.

The case studies found that interest is growing across Africa in bioenergy to address both income and energy needs. For example, ethanol can be blended with fossil fuels to reduce dependence on expensive fuel imports that are a major drag on economic development. Ethanol also can be used in cooking stoves, reducing dependence on unhealthy and environmentally destructive charcoal and wood. In addition, using biodiesel to power electrical generators is of keen interest in many areas, given the challenges facing the power grid across Africa.

But as global demand escalates for biodiesel and ethanol, a key concern has emerged that a rush to expand production in Africa, particularly for export, could usurp land and resources needed food crops. But Diaz-Chavez said evidence uncovered in the FARA report finds "food versus bioenergy" should not be the choice, and that the more relevant discussion today is how to properly integrate bioenergy into agriculture production systems in different regions of Africa.

For example, the report concludes that sugar cane production for biofuels could be doubled in many areas "without reducing food production or destroying valuable habitats." Furthermore, Diaz-Chavez said it's clear that many African countries are sensitive to potential conflicts with food production and are pursuing policies that address this concern.

"There have been individual instances where bioenergy production has produced negative impacts, but that does not mean it is not possible to develop this sector in a sustainable manner," she said.

For example, Mozambique has adopted a policy that designates only sugar cane and sweet sorghum for ethanol and jatropha and coconut for biodiesel. In South Africa, Parliament has decreed that maize can no longer be used for biofuel. Mali does not allow food crops to be used for biofuel production. Also, the report finds programs in Mali to increase production of jatropha, a shrub that produces seeds that can be converted into fuel, are benefiting local smallholder farmers "without compromising food production."

The analysis reveals that the challenge today is not so much whether bioenergy production can co-exist with food production but rather how it can be scaled-up to help African countries realize their potential.

"There are the same challenges you see for any crops, which is if you don't have adequate resources, you cannot boost production," she said. For example, the report concludes that in the less developed countries of Africa, "it is possible to triple yields by using improved management practices, potentially freeing up more land for bioenergy production."

Part of the study was devoted to identifying or "mapping" the wide array of groups in Africa who are getting involved in various aspects of bioenergy production. They include farmers groups, NGOs, industry and, in governments, agriculture, transport, energy, and environment ministries and agencies.

"We know there is intense interest in many sectors, but the problem is they are not necessarily communicating with one another," said Dr. Monty Jones, Executive Director of FARA. "It is a situation that offers an opportunity for FARA, as an organization with partners in the public and private sector across the region, to provide a forum that brings all of these different interests together to form a cohesive and inclusive approach to bioenergy production."

At a discussion of the report during the Science Week, a key issue that emerged was that bioenergy issues must be part of a broader conversation about how to meet the energy needs of African farmers.

"Energy is the key to modernizing agriculture in Africa," said Dr. Ibrahim Togola, who heads an agriculture industry development group in Mail and is a professor at Mali's Rural Polytechnical Institute. "We need to make our politicians understand that we will never have an agriculture revolution in Africa without having access to modern energy services," he said.

Source: Physorg

 

Airlines Going Green? Waterland International to Deliver its First Shipment of Jatropha Oil for Use by the EU Airline Industry

Waterland International has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding “MOU” with a leading supplier of bio-fuels for the aviation industry. Waterland is pleased to announce it is making its first delivery of Jatropha Oil for use as feedstock for aviation fuel to the EU Airline Industry this week. The Agreement stipulates a long term take off agreement for Waterland’s Jatropha oil which is produced from the plantations it oversees in Central Java, Indonesia.

The interest in Waterland’s jatropha plantations from aviation companies has led the Company to begin planning a new oil expelling and purification center at Kedu Selatan and another at Cilicap, Indonesia which will allow for further commercial quantities of Jatropha Oil to be shipped to the airline industry, and after further refining to be used as jet fuel.

Jatropha jet fuel has a lower freezing point and demonstrated higher energy density per unit mass than typical jet fuel, enabling airplanes to travel farther using less fuel. For all of the test flights, the blended biofuel displayed no adverse effects on any of the aircraft systems. Jatropha oil, when refined has almost exactly the same chemical properties as the Jet-A1 fuel that currently powers the commercial aviation industry. According to Boeing test data, Jatropha based jet fuel exceeds fuel performance requirements, requires no change to airplanes or engines, requires no change to infrastructure, and can be mixed or alternated with jet fuel. Not all Jatropha oil is created equal and therefore only oil that meets stringent quality specifications can be used in the aviation industry.

“I'm happy to report that our Jatropha oil is of the highest quality and the fact that we have been chosen as a preferred supplier to the aviation industry proves this” stated Waterland CEO, Dr. Nolten,. Waterland’s Jatropha Oil is produced to the exact FFA specification level and passes the purity test for use as aviation fuel.    “Our secret is the quality management system we have implemented which combines expert agronomic knowledge in the growing and picking process of the Jatropha plants as well as a controlled environment for processing the fruits from the plant. In addition, we have engineers from Holland overseeing our oil expelling process” concluded CEO Dr. Nolten. Producing high quality Jatropha oil is dependent on the correct timing of the Jatropha’s harvest as this determines the chemical composition of the oil. Waterland constantly monitors farmers’ harvest results for proper fruit ripening and continually holds training sessions for farmers on its plantations. In addition, “the processing of the Jatropha fruit, when not managed properly causes the oil to have a high percentage of (FFA) Free Fatty Acids which result in oil which has a very short shelf life as well as other impurities” stated Waterland CEO, Dr. Nolten

In order to continue to supply the aviation industry with high quality jatropha oil Waterland is in the process of obtaining building permits to build a new oil expelling and purification center at Kedu Selatan and another at Cilicap, Central Java, Indonesia.

For Interested Parties : please email publicrelations@waterlandinternational.com

About Jatropha based Jet Fuel for the Aviation Industry :
Based on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Aviation is accountable for approximately 13% of CO2 emissions from total transportation. Until the recent economic recession had hit air traffic volume, global aviation was among the fastest growing polluters. Furthermore, CO2 emitted by aircrafts high above the ground level remains in the atmosphere, and the warming effect is twice as serious than CO2 emissions on the ground.

However, the aviation industry is going green and airlines are required to measure their own carbon footprint and cut emissions. The industry is taking responsibility by formulating and committing significant emission reduction initiatives based on concrete targets. Any sustainable biofuel will have to be compliant with existing aircraft engines and hardware infrastructure for distribution, storage and fuelling systems with no or minimal modifications required. In addition, green aviation fuels must be suitable for blending with fossil based jet fuel. Several airlines have already successfully tested jatropha based jet fuel. The world’s annual consumption of jet fuel (non-military) is about 2 billion barrels and IATA proposes 10% of jet fuel to come from biofuels by 2017. This translates into a $100 billion plus business opportunity. Among major airlines, British Airways, Delta and United will have CO2 emissions in excess of 3 million tons and could be confronted with offset payments of approximately $50 million each. The right choice of biofuels offers an escape route to these payments.

About Waterland International :

Waterland is an agricultural technology enterprise with headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Company that has developed high yielding Jatropha plants which give a superior yield and oil content which is a result of years of research and development. Waterland is leader in Jatropha research and development in Asia and together with its partners have successfully established first class research and technology bases in Indonesia, Germany, The Netherlands, India, Vietnam and Malaysia that are accelerating the commercialization of next generation biofuels and renewable power generation. Combining agricultural and technological innovations, intellectual property rights and extensive hands on operational plantation experience, Waterland controls all aspects of Jatropha research, development, and cultivation, including bio-engineering, high tech conversion technologies, commercialization of valuable by-products and the processing of high grade biodiesel. The Waterland Group Asia was established to support a joint investment initiative by several European based companies who own and operate power-plants in Europe, which required sustainable bio-mass energy sources to operate. Waterland currently produces Jatropha oil from over 12,000 hectares that have reached production status and the Group currently has over 60,000 hectares of planted Jatropha that will come into production next year. The Group cornerstone is its social farming model where it endeavors to empower the local farmers with the aim of bringing prosperity, independence and self-sustainability to the communities surrounding the forest on a commercially sustainable basis.

Source: PRWeB

 

Global airline industry soars toward recovery

The global airline industry is expected to pull out of its slump and make its first profit in three years, according to an industry group report Monday.

The International Air Transport Association said that it expects to make a profit of $2.5 billion in 2010, its first since 2007.

This is in contrast to a loss of $10 billion in 2009. "Our resilience has been tested by disease, war, terrorism, spiking oil prices and even a volcano," said Giovanni Bisignani, Chief Executive of the IATA, providing a list of the industry's troubles over the few years at a meeting in Berlin.

Going forward, Bisignani painted a picture of "cautious optimism." He noted that carriers in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to make the strongest recovery, with a profit forecast of $2.2 billion this year. Airlines in North America are also expected to do well, with a profit of $1.9 billion, and carriers in Latin America are projected to be in the black by $900 million.

"Global traffic is back to pre-recession levels," said Bisignani.

But he added that some areas are stronger than others. Carriers in the Middle East and Africa are expected to scratch out a total profit of $100 million in 2010, according to the IATA.

And Europe, which is particularly hard-hit by the recession, is the only region expected to suffer a loss, of $2.8 billion, said the industry group.

The Icelandic volcano that halted European travel earlier this year took much of Bisignani's blame for the Continent's projected loss. The erupting volcano caused a massive ash plume that grounded traffic across Europe, stranding 10 million travelers and costing the economy $5 billion, including $1.8 billion in lost airline revenue, according to the IATA.

Given the remaining challenges of the industry, Bisignani browbeat striking airline employees as "out of touch with reality."

He did not specifically mention British Airways (BAY), which is involved in a labor dispute with workers.

"Pilots and crew must come down to earth and strikes at this time are shortsighted nonsense," he said. "Labor needs to stop picketing and cooperate."

Another chief culprit is fuel price volatility, said Bisignani. He said the industry should "break the tyranny of oil" and switch to biofuels made from jatropha, camelina, algae "and even urban waste." This will also help the airlines to cut their carbon emissions by half over the next 40 years, he said.

He said that some carriers have made commitments to purchase biofuel planes. But he added that international governments should do more to spur the use of this new technology through stimulus funding, noting that they've spent "only" $600 million so far.

"Change is not to be feared but embraced," said Bisignani.

Source: CNN Money

 

Mechanical Jatropha harvester successfully trialed in Honduras

In Honduras, the Agroipsa Farm in Choluteca has deployed the BEI Jatropha Wave Harvester, a mechanical harvesting system for Jatropha which has successfully completed an eight-month trial of the system, according to BEI International, the harvester’s manufacturer. The system was used for mechanical harvest of a 550 hectare plantation of three-year old jatriopha. Max Lint of BEI reports, “it is feasible to grow and harvest Jatropha on a commercial scale.  We are working with many Jatropha growers around the world that have a need for our Jatropha harvester.  We are currently working on a Jatropha harvester sale in Hawaii and another in Brazil.”

The harvester can be seen on YouTube here.

Source: Biofuels Digest

 

Sun Biofuels to extract first Jatropha Oil

The Mozambique President himself to activate crushing of first seeds

Only 14 months after planting its first crop of jatropha curcas, British-based renewable energy company, Sun Biofuels is to extract the first jatropha oil from its first yield of seeds at its farms at Chimoio in the Manica Province of Mozambique. At 11.00am on 25th May this year, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Guebuza, will press the button to crush from harvested seeds the first drops of what promises to be a major new source of sustainable energy both in the African locality and in the wider world. The event represents an important milestone not just for this pioneering British company but for the jatropha producing industry as a whole.

Backed by Trading Emissions PLC (TEP), an AIM listed fund established to invest and trade in carbon emission and other environmentally anchored products, Sun Biofuels was founded in 2005 with the single-minded vision to pioneer biofuel
production from jatropha curcas. The jatropha tree has grown wild in Africa for centuries. Its remarkable oil bearing properties were well-known. But it had never been grown on a commercial scale.

Attracted by the countries impressive economic growth rates, political stability, abundance of land and their untapped
domestic energy markets, the company chose Mozambique and Tanzania as host nations for their plantations. In 2006, after careful negotiation with local and national government, government guaranteed leases were secured on 8,000Ha in the Kiserawe region of Tanzania and on 5,000Ha near Chimoio in Mozambique. The sites had much to recommend them boasting excellent transport links, suitable soil conditions and optimum levels of rainfall. Nor were any existing food crops displaced: The Mozambique plantation was acquired from an exiting tobacco firm and the plantation in Tanzania was reclaimed from coastal scrub land badly degraded by local charcoal production. In December 2008, 1000Ha were prepared and planted at Chimoio with planted land now covering over 3,000Ha in Tanzania and Mozambique. These first plantations
have been highly successful with 95% germination rates and the trees now standing at an impressive 2m in height. The successful growth of this first crop has enabled the first harvesting to now take place and for the first oil to be extracted – an event to be marked by the visit to the farms of a VIP government deputation led by the President himself.

Full press release: Sun Biofuels

Study shows Jatropha can thrive in lahar areas

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DoST-PCARRD) said that a plant used as herbal medicine can grow in lahar-laden areas of San Marcelino, Zambales.

As part of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños and PCARRD’s integrated research and development program, researchers from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), led by Tomas Gajete, delved on the productivity of jatropha plantations in San Marcelino.

Jatropha curcas, aka “tubang bakod”, grows sporadically as hedges or as abandoned crops across the country. However, it can be used as herbal medicine in rural areas and can be a source of alternative renewable fuel.

According to the Center for New Crops and Plants Products website of the Purdue University in Indiana, USA, jatropha leaves are safe to eat. The nuts are sometimes roasted and eaten, while in South Sudan, Africa, it is being used as a contraceptive.

The seeds, on the other hand, have been used in soaps, candles, and Turkey red oil.

Source: Manila Bulletin

 

10-year project for study of Jatropha in Brazil

SAO PAULO—The Brazilian Jatropha Growers Association (ABPPM) and  the Brazilian government’s Embrapa, one of the world’s leading agricultural research institutes, have formed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to conduct a 10-year project for study of the Jatropha Curcas L. plant.

Jatropha seed oil is a potentially major source of renewable energy that is especially suitable for production in Brazil.  It already has been tested successfully as a biofuel for the aviation industry.  The new ABBPM-Embrapa work will enable the commercial development of Jatropha as an important feedstock for aviation and other industries.

On January 27, a synchronized sowing took place in four Brazilian states (MA, MT, MG and PA), involving four ABPPM associates who will manage the Jatropha plantations during this period.  They will supply data for research and development of the culture.

The experiment is using three genotypes, two from Embrapa and one from a private company. The data will also be used for the Life Cycle Analysis of the plant to determine its current sustainability. The final goal of the experiment is to speed up the domestication of the species so government finance can be allocated for the producers. ABPPM is also in talks with the Berlin-based Jatropha Alliance to take this experiment to other countries.

 

10 Biofuels Predictions for 2010

Yesterday is history, but is tomorrow really a mystery? Some biofuels trends are becoming increasingly clear. Here are the Digest’s 10 Biofuels Predictions for 2010 – beginning with the most predictable (#10) to the most surprising (#1).

#10. Low Carbon Fuel Standards. Increasing action from the states in establishing fuel-neutral Low Carbon Fuel Standards based on the California LCFS model — which will likely create a checkerboard of allowable biofuels, and prompt a series of lawsuits by trade associations such as Growth Energy that address the ultimate question: Can individual states ban corn ethanol in terms of qualifying towards state renewable fuels mandates, when the fuel is approved under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard? Look for this one to reach the Supreme Court. The hint from 2009.

#9. Cellulosic ethanol “happens”. In the US, ZeaChem’s semi works facility will be completed, POET will near completion at its 25 Mgy project in Iowa, and Range Fuels’ will open a 20 Mgy facility in Soperton, Georgia.  Internationally, look for LanzaTech’s 500,000 gallon project to open, the first cellulosic ethanol deal in China, and announcements that Brazilian, Vietnamese and Australian sugarcane bagasse will be utilized in advanced biofuels projects. Overall, 102 million gallons of advanced biofuels capacity by the end of the year, with 25 Mgy of it cellulosic ethanol at 17 facilities. The hint from 2009.

#8. Aviation biofuels surge. Certification complete for Bio-SPK as an aviation biofuel. Major deals struck by British Airways, Qantas, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines for biofuels. Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic will also announce new paths to increased use of renewables. The hint from 2009.

#7. More ethanol capacity acquired by oil companies. For 2010, look for a major acquisition of 200-800 Mgy in ethanol capacity, at discounted rates of around $0.70 per gallon of capacity, by a major oil refiner in the US. The hint from 2009.

#6. Green chemicals and plastics boom. In 2010, look for: Major strategic investment from chemicals and plastics firms – likely Dupont, Monsanto, or India’s Reliance — in a renewable chemicals platform. The hint from 2009.

#5. The jatropha revival. In 2010, look for a major investment announcement from SG Biofuels, outlining their capital strategy. Look for potential reorganization of GEM Biofuels. The hint from 2009.

#4. US Congress revises Renewable Fuel Standard. Congress will take up the Renewable Fuel Standard with a goal of setting new targets and timelines, and making the language more fuel and feedstock neutral.  Look for the 36 billion gallon target established in 2007 to be extended towards 2025, or reduced. Look for drop-in fuels and microcrops to be added to the legislation. Look for indirect land use change to be dropped as a criteria for biofuels until 2015. The hint from 2009.

#3. Lemna, cyanobacteria and heterotrophic algae gain traction as microcrops begin transition from R&D to commercialization. In 2010, look for a major customer for the lemna platform via PetroAlgae; reorganization at Biolight Harvesting. Open ponds to be reconsidered in favor of partially closed environments to reduce the impact of soot on pond development. The hint from 2009.

#2. Long range marine biofuels/green port deals. Two major port based orders for renewable marine fuel (bunker fuel from pyrolysis, or marine diesel). The hint from 2009.

#1. Alternative financing: REITs move in. The formation of at least one, major $2B+ bioenergy investment fund that will acquire assets on a build-leaseback or buy-leaseback basis. Possibly the fund will replenish its capital through the sales of securities based on the underlying pool of assets. The hint from 2009.

Source: Biofuels Digest

 

Toyota Tsusho to Produce Jatropha as Alternative Fuel

Toyota Tsusho Corp., the trading affiliate of Toyota Motor Corp., plans to start growing jatropha next year as it bets that higher crop yields and oil prices will make the plant a profitable alternative fuel. The Nagoya-based company is in negotiations with a Philippine banana plantation to produce the leafy green shrub, Makoto Hattori, a project development manager, said in an interview, without naming the company or disclosing the size of the investment.

Fuel made from jatropha seeds helped power a Boeing 747 flight last year, as record oil prices spurred companies to grow corn, sugarcane and other plants to produce biofuels. Toyota Tsusho bought a stake in Singapore-based seed researcher JOIL(S) Pte. this year to develop a better plant after erratic yields prompted BP Plc and rivals to pull out of production ventures.

“We need to dramatically increase the plant’s yield in order to make this profitable,” Hattori said in an interview. Rising oil prices and government legislated use of biofuels would also help make the business viable, he said. Crude oil has rallied 77 percent this year as a rebound in emerging markets pushed prices to the highest level in 12 months in October. Jatropha, found in subtropical countries, isn’t edible and can grow in arid lands unsuitable for farming, unlike sugar and corn. Toyota Tsusho fell 0.3 percent as of 11 a.m. local time in Tokyo trading.

Jatropha Research

Hattori said he expects the business to be profitable within five years, without giving a specific forecast. Research at JOIL, which specializes in tissue cultures and selective breeding of the plant, is headed by Nam-Hai Chua, winner of Japan’s International Prize in Biology in 2005. Government initiatives by countries including Myanmar and India that encouraged farmers to grow the plant failed because officials didn’t successfully address how to turn the seeds into fuel, Hattori said. “Past failures with jatropha by others were largely a result of a lack of consideration about the downstream logistics of processing and marketing the crop,” he said.

The trading house may partner oil refineries in the future, Hattori said. The investments are part of a plan by Toyota Tsusho to reduce its reliance on Toyota Motor and generate profits from new business lines. The company’s shares have rallied 45 percent this year, outpacing the 6 percent gain by the benchmark Topix index.

Source: Bloomberg

 

India: national biofuels policy granted

The Indian government has given its consent to the National Policy on Biofuels, a move which will open doors to greater funding in the green fuel sector.There will be a commissioning of National Biofuel Fund and a Biofuel Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minister.

India wants to cut its dependence on hydrocarbon and coal, 70% of which is derived from imports. Its future could lie with the inedible shrub jatropha. An agreement has been made with the US on R&D of cellulosic ethanol and algal biodiesel. The Indian government has mandated and outlined the fertile land and waste land.

Under the Policy 20% blending of biofuels is targeted by 2017.

Source: Biofuels International

 

Too early to dismiss jatropha?

SG Biofuels CEO Kirk Haney says science and genetics hold the key to unlocking the full potential of the next-generation biofuel feedstock.

Imagine if corn were the size of your pinky finger and tomatoes were no larger than marbles.  Now imagine the impact that would have on our global food supply. The reality is, that’s the size they were before selective breeding and genetic enhancement. Today, we have the opportunity to achieve a similar evolution in jatropha that could drastically impact our supply of renewable energy.

The true promise of jatropha comes from unlocking its potential through breeding and genetics, employing proper agronomic practices, and developing a value chain that creates a viable global marketplace. Unfortunately, many early adopters have pursued strategies that turned a blind eye to the unique characteristics of the plant, setting unrealistic expectations before proper research and crop improvements had taken place.

Jatropha is a non-edible plant that produces seeds containing high amounts of sustainable, low cost oil. Because it is non-edible, it does not compete with global food supplies, and can be effectively harvested on abandoned land that is considered undesirable for food crops. Most importantly, it is undomesticated. And, until recently, it had never been planted on a large scale. These are critical factors to consider when reviewing recent efforts to plant and harvest the crop, as well as its future commercial opportunities. 

Jatropha curcas has long been recognized by indigenous cultures as a source for cooking and heating oil and for its various medicinal properties. Its oil can also be used for sustainable bio-based materials and petroleum substitutes including biodiesel, chemicals and jet fuel. Its overall greenhouse gas emissions are 70 percent less than traditional petroleum.

In 2007, governments and businesses in Europe, India, Africa and South East Asia quickly jumped onto the jatropha bandwagon, emphasizing its ability to grow anywhere with little to no irrigation or agronomic management while producing high quantities of oil (see Pakistan follows India by jumping on the jatropha biofuel train and Indian group plans farm of 5B jatropha trees). Estimates of yields varied greatly, most based on little knowledge or research into how it would respond at plantation scale.

As quickly as the hype regarding jatropha escalated in 2007, it came back down to earth.  Jatropha’s emergence was stalled by cumbersome community-based farming models using inferior strains of jatropha planted in climates and on land that were not optimal for the crop. Adequate supply chains had not been established. As a result, producers and growers fell woefully short of their ambitious targets.

Full article: Cleantech Group

JATROPHA CURCAS: HIGH YIELDIG ACCESSIONS AND IMPROVEMENT

A. Kumar, A. Kumari
Energy Plantation Demonstration project and Biotechnology Center Bio-Technology Lab Department of Botany University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

ABSTRACT: Jatropha curcas has now being extensively grown in India under the Department of Biotechnology supported micro mission projects with an object to identify, characterize and multiply high yielding strains and study their growth and productivity under different agro climatic conditions. In Rajasthan, Jatropha grows wild in south east Rajasthan which lies on south east side of Aravalli hill range which roughly divides the state in semi-arid and arid regions. Banswara, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Pali, Rajsamand, and Sirohi these districts of Rajasthan have huge strands of Jatropha growing under natural conditions.

A detailed survey was carried out in these areas. 12 accessions were collected and 11 were analyzed for their oil contents. Four accessions having oil contents more than 35 percent were selected for multiplication at the Energy Plantation Demonstration Centre, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur under Department of Biotechnology supported micro mission programme. Nursery techniques for large scale plantation of elite strains have been developed. An area of 35 ha has been planted with Jatropha curcas with the high yielding strains identified during the course of investigation. The plants have shown great degree of genetic diversity.

The morphological parameters have been employed to characterize initial growth of the plants in the nursery stage. Some of the plants in their second year of growth have shown flowering and fruiting during moths of September to January. Application of fertilizers and proper irrigation schedule has improved the growth and productivity of plants.

Full article: Scientific Blogging

Plane fuel planted

AVIATION HALOPHYTES: BOEING and biofuel producer Honeywell UOP have commissioned a study into whether plants that thrive in saltwater can provide sustainable aviation fuel.Salt-resistant plants, known as halophytes, thrive in arid land, such as those found in the coastal deserts of Abu Dhabi, and can be irrigated using seawater. They are therefore widely regarded as a more sustainable source of biofuel than oil palm plants, for example, which compete with food crops for arable land and fresh water.

The research project, led by Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, could pave the way for growing halophytes in suitable areas located in the Emirate.The plants have the potential to deliver high yields per acre of land, because their seeds contain a sizeable amount of oil. For example, oil constitutes 30 per cent of the mass of one of the species being studied, the Salicornia bigelovii.

Boeing commercial airplanes managing director of Environmental Strategy said that in the near term, halophytes, along with camelina and jatropha, are the focus of its studies, while algae will require longer-term research.

Source: The Irish Times

What happened to Jatropha revolution?

SINGAPORE (Commodity Online): What happened to the once acclaimed Jatropha revolution which was about to bring winds of change in the energy sector? It seems nobody knows clearly what happened to the big Jatropha projects.

And, as if the plight of Jatropha industry is not bad enough, a provocatively titled webinar “Is the Jatropha Sector becoming another Dot Com Bubble?” appeared on September 30.However, Jatro entrepreneurs Chris  Hunter & James Scruby offered proof that the Jatropha industry has learnt a lot in the few short years since Jatropha was first planted as a commercial energy crop, and that given reasonable time to domesticate the plant, there is a silver lining to Jatropha biofuel production.   
 
Chris & James are Directors at Viridesco, which has a 4-year-old Jatropha plantation in Mozambique. James is also a director at Elsbett AG, a world leader in pure plant oil technology for diesel engines, which utilises Jatropha oil as fuel. 
 
During a discussion, organised by the Second JatrophaWorld Africa team, Chris & James shared their expectations and business models to reflect the current realities of Jatropha cultivation, and provided honest views on yields, water requirements, harvesting and other on-the-ground realities of managing a Jatropha plantation.

Full article: Commodity Online

 

SG Biofuels: Amasses World’s Largest Jatropha Library, Aims For $1/Gallon Oil

In the rush to grow energy crops for producing alternative fuels, jatropha has often been heralded as the most promising because it can be grown on marginal land. But so far jatropha hasn’t lived up to the hype — requiring too much water and producing too little yield — prompting some early investors, like oil giant BP, to give up on the crop. But a young Encinitas, Calif.-based startup, SG Biofuels, says the problem with these early efforts was that they put the cart before the horse.

The firm has spent the last three and a half years amassing what it says is the largest and most diverse library of jatropha genetic material in the world. The team scoured India, Southeast Asia, and most importantly Central America, the native home of the shrub, to build the firm’s library. “This is the foundation for any effective crop improvement program, and we were shocked that no one had done that,” SG Biofuels CEO Kirk Haney told us. “That is step one, but many jumped to step five by putting [jatropha] in the ground and crossing their fingers.”

Full article: Reuters

 

Jatropha oil may cruise to success as stand-alone fuel

Puerto Rican energy company Energia Alterna has announced that Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises will participate in trials of different blends of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and jatropha crude oil in different quantities.

The aim of the trials is to ascertain whether jatropha oil can be burnt as fuel by itself (not as biodiesel), as well as being used as a blend fuel. According to German manufacturing company MAN, the concept works in theory, but has yet to be tested in the marine industry.

A positive outcome would mean an explosion of demand for jatropha crude oil, which at $350-400 (€238-272) per tonne is significantly cheaper than MGO, which at $600 per tonne is currently the only oil that can be used in European ports because of its low contaminants.

One cruise ship consumes an average of 10 tonnes every hour.

Source: Biofuels International

 

Can Botanical Tweaking Turn Jatropha Into a Biofuel Wonder Plant?

Can a tough and weedy shrub solve all of our energy problems and stop runaway climate change?

Don’t be ridiculous—of course it can't. But that, briefly, was the hype surrounding Jatropha curcas, a poisonous plant that grows wild in tropical climates. Jatropha seeds are saturated with oil that can be easily processed into biofuel, and the hardy plant can grow on what's politely called "marginal land": wasteland that's sandy, rocky, dry, or nutrient-poor.

By embracing jatropha, optimistic environmentalists said, nations could avoid displacing agricultural crops and causing food shortages, and could also prevent forests being cleared for biofuel plantations. Over the past five years, tropical nations rushed to start jatropha programs, while Goldman Sachs reportedly cited the plant as one of the best candidates for biodiesel production. Several airlines have even begun test flights with a jatropha-derived jet fuel.

Then, facts began to emerge to combat the hype. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in June confirmed that jatropha can grow on marginal land, and can survive droughts—but it won't do much more than survive, and it certainly won't produce bumper crops of oily seeds. To get the best yields, jatropha needs fertile soil and significant amounts of water, like most other crops. Just last week, the oil company BP withdrew from a partnership with the jatropha biofuel company D1 Oils, which aimed to plant 1 million hectares of jatropha.

But that's not the end of the story for the would-be wonder crop. While "jatropha euphoria" may be fading along with the hope of an easy answer, some are turning their efforts to a hard, slow process that is as old as civilization: the painstaking process of domestication.

Full article: Discover Magazine

 

Toyota to invest in Philipines jatropha bio-diesel plant

Except in Europe, Toyota has shown little interest in diesel powerplants for anything but the Land Cruiser. Toyota even canceled plans to add a diesel engine to the U.S. Tundra pickup truck. But, a division of Toyota is currently in negotiations with the Philippine government for an investment in a jatropha plantation and biodiesel refinery.

Trading company Toyota Tsusho will start off by planting and cultivating a one acre plot of jatropha and conducting a feasibility study of biodiesel refining. Toyota will partner with the government-run National Development Corp. (NDC). Toyota will fund the initial planting as well as research to be done by Philippine researchers.

Depending on the initial results, Toyota and NDC will look at further collaborations on large scale cultivation and refining. Jatropha is a preferred biodiesel feedstock because it consists of 30-40 percent oil and it can’t be used as a food source.

Source: AutoGreenMagazine

 

Community wastelands in UP to be taken for Jatropha plantation

ALLAHABAD: Jatropha (bio-diesel) plantation is going to be undertaken on community lands in 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh under the Jeevan Jyoti project.

A JV (Joint venture) company, Bharat Renewal Energy Limited (BREL), is to act as facilitator for jatropha plantation and marketing of jatropha seeds. The plantation would be carried out under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), utilising the wastelands in rural areas under ownership of local panchayats.

UP government has directed vide GO no. 2592/38-7-2008 dated 31.10.08 that wastelands under gram sabhas be used for plantation of jatropha or Pongamia Pinnata under NREGA in 30 districts of the state. BREL, a JV unit set up by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, is to facilitate the entire process working in coordination with district administration and village panchayats.

District magistrate, Allahabad, Rajiv Aggarwal informed that the Jeevan Jyoti Project has been taken up for implementation in the district in right earnest. This project involves jatropha plantation on gram sabha wastelands, utilising funds and labour under NREGA. Last year, nurseries were established by the forest and horticulture departments to grow jatropha saplings. The project is beneficial to the villagers as it provides them employment in their own village, uses their wastelands productively and the jatropha produce gives additional earning to the village through marketing of jatropha seeds for bio-diesel production. The most important issue is the buy-back of the seeds produced, which is underwritten by BREL at a price decided by the state government. Oil companies stand to gain as they get the raw material to extract diesel at cheaper rates, he declares.

The land remains in the possession of the gram sabha. An agreement valid for 15 years is going to be signed between the two parties -- the BREL officials and the gram sabhas through the pradhans. The agreement can be extended for two tenures of 15 years each, if so desired by both the parties.

The project envisages bio-diesel crop production on gram sabha wastelands with jatropha and Pongamia Pinnata (locally known as karanj). Karanj, another bio-fuel crop, would be planted only in waterlogged areas as jatropha can not be cultivated on such lands. Of the two, jatropha is the preferred crop as it is a shrub with lesser gestation period, gives synchronous flowering (flowering at the same time) and hence the seeds are easier to harvest and market. Karanj, on the other hand, is a TBOS (Tree Born Oil Species) with asynchronous flowering which are difficult to harvest, informed Shesh Narayan Mishra, district forest officer Allahabad.

The price of seeds of these bio-fuel crops would be decided on the basis of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the year, to be decided by a team headed by the agricultural production commissioner (APC), UP government. At present, it is priced at Rs 6 per kilogram. However, once retail of bio-diesel fuels starts in the market, the seeds will be bought back at 20% of the retail price or MSP, whichever is higher. This income can be used by the gram panchayat for the desired developmental work in their village.

Jatropha offers numerous other uses apart from the seed yield that begins from the third year of plantation. Being bitter in taste, animals do not graze on it leading to better survival. Thus it can be used as a bio-fence, even against the dreaded menace of Neelgais (blue bulls). Then the branches of jatropha plant can be pruned and used as firewood!

Jatropha should be planted during the monsoon season between 15 July and 15 October. BREL would be taking technical help, like selection of saplings and manner of plantation, from Bio Energy Mission (BEM) department of the UP government. Plant saplings would be procured from approved nurseries at a fixed rate of Rs 2.50 per sapling and a total of 1,000 saplings would be planted per acre of land. Jatropha crop requires only protective irrigation and pruning from time to time.

The project is underway in Chitrakoot and being taken up in Allahabad and Rae Bareli at present. In Allahabad, 1,000 acres of land has been identified in Koraon tehsil and work is being carried out in Meja and Manda by the lekhpals and the BREL functionaries jointly. Final agreements would be signed with the gram sabha pradhans soon and we hope to start plantation by the time plantation season arrives. 10 lakh saplings have already been prepared, informed local officials.

Source: The Times of India

 

South African report finds jatropha does not have negative impact on water flow

In South Africa, the Water Research Commission has released a report, “Jatropha curcas in South Africa: An Assessment of its Water Use and Bio-Physical Potential.” The study found that “Jatropha curcas has been presented as a wonder-plant when, in reality, very little is known about it and actual large-scale success stories cannot be found. Care should be taken in promoting the wide-scale propagation of J. curcas.”

However, the study found that “From the water-use measurements and modelled impacts on water resources, it would appear that J. curcas is unlikely to have a negative impact on stream flow.  Water use does not seem to exceed that of the natural vegetation, which it might replace. From this evidence, J. curcas would not be eligible for declaration as a Stream Flow Reduction Activity.” The study can be downloaded here.

In Taiwan, the state oil company CPC said that it had commenced talks to plant jatropha in Indonesia or Cambodia between now and 2015. The oil concern said that it intends to plant up to 50,000 hectares of jatropha to reduce emissions and increase energy independence.

CPC also said that it may export jatropha biodiesel to Europe. The company had previously planted more than 3,000 jatropha trees in a Taiwan-based pilot program.

Source: BiofuelsDigest

 

Cathay Forest to Invest in a Fully Integrated Bio-Fuel Plantation and Refinery in Guizhou, China

Cathay Forest Products Corp., ("Cathay Forest")(TSX VENTURE: CFZ) is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement in which it will acquire 40% of privately held Eco-Energy China Group ("Eco-Energy"), a vertically integrated biodiesel producer in China. Terms of the deal include that Cathay Forest will acquire a 40% ownership of Eco-Energy for an aggregate purchase price of CDN$2.9 millions. This investment will be funded using Cathay Forest's current available cash position. Eco-Energy, based in the southwestern province of Guizhou, is a valuable addition to Cathay Forest's portfolio of forestry assets. Eco-Energy's assets include a 40,000 hectare plantation of Jatropha Curcus and a recently completed biodiesel refinery.

Jatropha was rated as one of the most efficient biofuel feedstocks by Goldman Sachs in its "Food, Feed, and Fuels" report in 2007. With an ability to grow on non-arable and marginal land, Jatropha is a perennial fruit bearing shrub whose seeds contain non-edible oil which can be processed into biodiesel. Eco-Energy's Jatropha plantation project has been audited and approved by both the Chinese central government and the Guizhou provincial government to receive significant cash subsidies. 10,000 hectares of Jatropha were planted in 2007 and another 30,000 hectares are scheduled to be planted in 2010 and 2011.

Eco-Energy also owns and operates a new multi-feedstock biodiesel refinery, designed and constructed by the engineering subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec, SSE:600028)(NYSE: SNP)(HKEX: 0386), one of the largest integrated oil producers in China. Test runs of Eco-Energy's biodiesel output have surpassed both the Chinese national standard and Sinopec quality standards. Eco-Energy is scheduled to begin production of biodiesel in the third quarter of 2009. Cathay Forest's forestry expertise and regional network will assist Eco-Energy in furthering its plantation expansion strategy to become a leading biodiesel producer in China. The investment in Eco-Energy will broadly diversify the customer base of Cathay Forest beyond the wood market.

"This investment in Eco-Energy allows Cathay Forest to advance into the world of biofuel production utilizing forestry assets and byproducts. In China, diesel is a product that is high in demand and short on supply." said Anthony Ng, Cathay Forest's President and CEO. "While Cathay Forest's focus is still on developing our Russian and China operations, we will not stop exploring new and promising opportunities to remain on the frontier of the forestry industry and create value for our shareholders. Following this investment in Eco-Energy, Cathay Forest will still have adequate resources to advance its business activities to positive cash flow."

Source: Ajax World Magazine

 

PNOC-AFC inks 2,000-hectare jatropha plantation development pact with Rodriguez, Rizal and grower-partner

Manila (19 May) -- The Philippine National Oil Company - Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC), the biofuels arm of state-owned PNOC, together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Rodriguez, Rizal and the Montalban Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative signed a tripartite agreement for the establishment of an aggregate area of 2,000-hectare jatropha plantation in Montalban.

"With the signing of the tripartite pact, the efforts of PNOC-AFC, the local government of Rodriguez, Rizal and the Montalban Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, relative to the jatropha production project are strengthened and consolidated. We all intend to pool and commit our resources to attain the production target of jatropha to expedite the Biofuels Project of the PNOC-AFC," said Romeo P. Tolentino, PNOC-AFC president and CEO. Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the PNOC-AFC will be funding an initial area of 500 hectares with a total project cost amounting to Php 9.125 million while the funding for the balance of 1,500 hectares is subject to availability of funding and budget approval.

"The funds for the project will be released to PNOC-AFC's grower-partner which is Montalban Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in accordance with the Work and Financial Plan. The market for the jatropha seeds that will be produced from the plantation will not be a problem since the PNOC-AFC will be the assured market," said Tolentino.

Also, the PNOC-AFC shall supply the jatropha seedlings and other farm inputs as well as pay for the labor during the planting process. The jatropha seedlings will be sourced from PNOC-AFC's nurseries in Los Baños and Pampanga - the nearest nurseries from the site. The Company will likewise provide technical assistance for the setting up of the plantation and help in its maintenance. Meantime, the grower-partner will manage the plantation together with PNOC-AFC. It will also provide the necessary labor inputs for the plantation establishment and maintenance while complying with all the permitting requirements from appropriate government agencies. The land that will be used in the plantation consists of ancestral lands of the Dumagats in Montalban. Majority of the members of the Montalban Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative are the owners of the ancestral lands where the jatropha will be planted. For its part, the local government of Montalban will participate in the project by investing in cash crops to be intercropped in the jatropha plantation thereby augmenting the financial needs of the farmers while waiting for the jatropha's optimal yield.

"The MOA was made to establish the formal working relationship of the three parties to synchronize and strengthen all existing efforts supporting the development of alternative fuels in the country," added Tolentino.

The signing of the MOA was held at the PNOC-AFC office in Makati City on May 8, 2009 and was attended by top officials of the three parties, including: PNOC-AFC Chairman Genaro Rafael K. Alvarez III, and President and CEO Romeo P. Tolentino; Rizal mayor Pedro S. Cuerpo; and Montalban Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative chairperson Benilda Cuerpo. The PNOC-AFC has the primary purpose to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy and technologies and carry on the business of alternative fuels and other related activities. The Company has been directed by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to have the primary responsibility over the Biofuel Project and to be the one to coordinate with the concerned agencies. (PNOC/PIA 12)

Source: Philippine Information Agency

 

Ghana hosts global summit on Jatropha

Experts, investors, companies and individuals involved in the cultivation of the jatropha plant for the production of the alternative energy source, biodiesel, would be gathering in Ghana to discuss the importance of the plant to the global economy.

The two-day 2nd-Generation Biofuels/Jatropha World Summit 2009, takes place in Accra from May 27 to 28, 2009 at the La Palm Beach Hotel, a press release from the organizers copied to ghanabusinessnews.com has said. The theme for the summit is “Towards Higher Yields, Large Scale Production & Exports for the International Markets”. Discussions to be led by experts in the field of jatropha cultivation and processing are expected to centre on investment opportunities, challenges facing the industry and how to strengthen information exchange. The issue of partnership to harness the potential of jatropha as a sustainable energy source would also be discussed, it said.

The event which is being organized by Magenta Global Pte Ltd., of Singapore would be graced by the Vice President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. Other speakers would include Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Deputy Minister for Energy and Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Food & Agriculture. In recent times Ghana has become an important center for investments in the cultivation of non-food crops, especially jatropha for the production of biofuels.

Investors in Ghana altogether have acquired millions of land around the country to cultivate jatropha for the production of biofuels for export.

Source: Ghana Business News

 

Cape Verde: Government and Geocapital set up biofuel Research Centre  

Praia, Cape Verde, 18 May – Cape Verde will this year have an International Centre for Scientific Research and Development of Technologies focused on biofuels under the terms of an agreement signed Friday in Praia by the Cape Verdean government and by company Geocapital - Investimentos Estratégicos.Creation of the centre follows the project of the National Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (INIDA) and the setting up of public/private partnership to strengthen research of oil-producing plants for biofuel production.In Cape Verde the plant most used for biofuel production is jatropha, which grows wild across the archipelago and which can be sown anywhere outside of the 10% of arable land (just 45,000 hectares).

With this partnership INIDA also approved a return to research of non-food crops, with special focus on oil-producing plants for biofuels, which began in the 1980s, and makes it possible to make use of areas sidelined by agricultural production in arid and semi-arid areas.Created in 2003 in Macau to boost the economic and commercial context of the for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese Speaking Countries (PALOP) via the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau, Geocapital has a “string and relevant” presence in those state and is carrying out an investment in the financial sector in East Timor.

Also in the biofuels sector Geocapital believes that planting jatropha in Guinea Bissau and Mozambique is likely to begin at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010, which would make it possible to produce biofuel within two to three years. 

Source: MacauHub

 

SG Biofuels grows jatropha in Latin, Central America

SG Biofuels, Encinitas, Calif., is growing Jatropha curcas in greenhouses and on plantations in Latin and Central America for biofuel and biodiesel production, while researching to develop strains that can sustain colder temperatures for growth in the U.S., according to the company. The plant has been growing successfully in tropical and subtropical locations for years and has been cited as one of the best candidates for biodiesel production because of its high oil content—30 to 40 percent. “[Jatropha oil] is a very high-quality oil and serves as a great source for biofuel and biodiesel,” said Brian Brokowski, director of media relations for SG Biofuels. SG Biofuels research efforts include selection and breeding, and the company has generated hybrids among genetically distinct lines to address yield, cold tolerance and resistance to insect pests, according to the company. Harvesting currently is done by hand because the fruit ripens at different times, but efforts are underway to harvest mechanically, Brokowski said. SG Biofuels distributes its jatropha oil to a growing list of biofuels producers. “We have a number of partners we’re working with and some discussions going on as well,” Brokowski said.

SG Biofuels has seen several benefits of the plant and its energy potential, according to Brokowski. While some energy crops can be competition for food crops, jatropha thrives on wasteland, grazed fields and abandoned farmland, eliminating that competition. Production costs are low relative to other feedstocks, he said, and jatropha also can help regenerate soil after years of planting. Sustainable jatropha feedstocks have half the carbon emissions of petroleum, according to the company. SG Biofuels was established three years ago to grow and research jatropha and has established a team of researchers to manage genetic and breeding programs. Contract farmers manage the plantations, capable of yielding 200 to 300 gallons of oil per acre. SG Biofuels owns the plantation land, but declined to disclose the number of acres.

In April, the company announced the opening of its Jatropha Genetic Resource Center to advance profitable, large-scale production of jatropha as a low-cost sustainable feedstock for biofuel.

Source: Biomass Magazine

 

Japan Airlines conducts first biofuel test flight in Asia

The engine of the JAL aircraft that was used for the biofuel test flight is seen at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Friday. The JAL aircraft using biofuel, top, takes off on a test flight from Haneda Airport on Friday. A biofuel test flight was conducted in Japan on Friday, a first in Asia and only the fourth of its kind in the world, following Britain, New Zealand, and the United States. Japan Airlines (JAL), along with Boeing Co., and Pratt & Whitney, conducted the test using sustainable second-generation biofuel in one of the four engines of a JAL-owned Boeing 747-300 aircraft.The biofuel component of 9,000 liters used in the test was a mixture of second-generation biofuel feedstocks: 84 percent camelina, 15 percent Jatropha and 1 percent algae. Camelina, which grows even in poor soil and whose oil has been used in lamps, was used in a test for the first time. The 90-minute test flight was held between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and an area off Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, at a cruising altitude of around 10,000 meters. “The test will make a contribution to the development of biofuel,; said JAL's CEO Haruka Nishimatsu at a ceremony held before the round-trip test flight. He also said, “If biofuel becomes commercialized, we would like to lead the world in using it.“

Source: The Mainichi Daily News

Air New Zealand declares first jatropha biofuel flight a success

Air New Zealand last week successfully completed the world's first test flight of a commercial airliner running on a jatropha-based biofuel, and immediately announced that it would now begin work to have the fuel certified for use in passenger jets. A blend of 50 per cent jatropha and 50 per cent standard jet fuel was used to power one engine during the two hour flight over Auckland, New Zealand, while a series of in-flight tests were carried out. Chief Pilot on the flight, Captain David Morgan, said the biofuel performed well through both the fuel system and engine. “To complete our testing programme our engineers will be thoroughly assessing the engine and fuel systems looking for any changes as a result of the use of biofuel“ he said. “Together with our partners on this project we will then review all the results as part of our drive to have jatropha certified as an aviation fuel.“

The test flight was a joint initiative between Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell's UOP, with support from Terasol Energy.

Experts have voiced concerns that biofuels may prove ineffective at high altitudes because such fuels tend to have higher freezing temperatures than conventional fuels. However, tests were successfully completed at various altitudes and under a variety of operating conditions to measure the biofuel's performance through the engine and fuel system.Rob Fyfe, chief executive officer of Air New Zealand, said it is Air New Zealand's long-term goal to become the world's most environmentally sustainable airline.

“We stand at the earliest stages of sustainable fuel development and it is exciting to be a part of this important moment in aviation history.”he said.

Environmental groups have raised concerns over the extent to which the aviation industry can rely on biofuels before increased demand for energy crops leads to increased deforestation and rising food prices. However, advocates of jatropha-based fuels claim that the plant can be grown effectively on marginal land and does not displace other crops. Air New Zealand said it had sourced and refined its jatropha oil from environmentally sustainable farms in South Eastern Africa and India.

Source: Business Green

German government advisory council: Jatropha is the better alternative

The new report of the German Advisory Council on Global Changes characterises Jatropha as a better alternative towards first generation biofuels. In its new report “World in Transition - Future Bioenergy and Sustainable Land Use“ the council comments on Jatropha as follows: “Bio energy can only be classed as sustainable energy if the land on which it is grown continues in the long term to produce as much biomass as is used for energy - in other words, if long-term soil fertility is ensured. (...) From this point of view perennial crops such as Jatropha (...) score better than annual crops such as rape, cereals or maize; the former group should therefore always be preferred.“

“From the point of view of climate change mitigation the first-generation biofuels (such as biodiesel from rape or bioethanol from maize), which involve the cultivation of temperate, annual crops on agricultural land, score very badly. (...) A different picture emerges for the use of perennial tropical plants such as Jatropha(...) that are grown on degraded land and result in carbon being stored in the soil there. In this situation a major climate change mitigation effect can be achieved at low cost.”

The complete report of the German Advisory Council on Global Changes as well as summaries can be downloaded here.

Source: German Advisory Council on Global Changes

Renier van Rooyen joins the board of the Jatropha Sustainable Biofuels Alliance

A leading Jatropha farmer in Africa, Renier van Rooyen from ESV Bio Africa, has been co-opted in the board of the Jatropha Sustainable Biofuels Alliance. He is the managing director of one of the largest Jatropha plantation in Africa, which is well-known within the international development community. Renier van Rooyen is an outstanding practitioner, whose expertise will be a great support for the work of the Jatropha Alliance.

Source: Jatropha Sustainable Biofuels Alliance

Japanese and Korean investors plan to acquire 50,000 ha for Jatropha cultivation on Philippines. A pilot batch of seedlings had already been prepared a year ago, to test run an area of 100 ha. After one month of clearing activity for the lands, the project is planned to go into full implementation.

Source: Sunstar, Philippines

A consortium of investors from Japan, South Korea and the Philippines has launched a pilot project to develop biofuels in the Southern Philippines. The joint venture has been named Sarangani Bio Corporation. The investors intend to develop 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) of land on Mindanao island to cultivate the biofuel crop jatropha. During the pilot phase, production will be started on 100 hectares with an initial investment of just over $ 65,000 (US).

Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

GM and Daimler Chrysler are nurturing Jatropha cultivation in India for widescale experiments. The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) is aiding these companies realize their aspirations to use Jatropha as an alternate fuel in future engines. While European automotive player Daimler’s Jatropha plantations across Indian states Gujarat and Orissa are already in their fourth year, US auto giant GM will join the race to cultivate Jatropha across 75-80 hectares of wasteland in Gujarat.

Source: Economic Times India

China's National Development and Reform Commission approved the construction of three jatropha-based biodiesel pilot projects with a total annual capacity of 187,000 tons. This includes a 66,000-ton plant in the southwestern part Sichuan province, as well as a 55,000-ton plant in Guizhou and a 66,000-ton plant in Hainan province. China has set a target to use 2.2 million tons non-grain biodiesel by 2020 to ease its dependence on oil imports.

Source: Energycurrent

Australia-based Jatoil Ltd. is urging the Australian government to allow cultivation of the jatropha plant, which is currently banned as a weed in the country’s northern regions. Jatoil’s actions were spurred by the July 4 release of a draft of the Garnaut Climate Change Review, which was commissioned by Australia’s Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

Source: Biodiesel Magazine

Air New Zealand has announced it plans to test renewable diesel made from jatropha oil in one of its Boeing 747-400 aircraft later this year. The airline said it will be the world’s first test flight using jatropha oil in a large passenger aircraft, and it hopes to be using sustainable fuels for 10 percent of its annual needs, approximately one million barrels of fuel, by 2013. The jatropha oil used for the test will be acquired from plantations in southeastern Africa and India.

Source: Biomass Magazine

The Omnia group has made an investment of some R29-million into research on jatropha agronomics in Zambia. According to Omnia CEO Rod Humphris, the research was being conducted in Zambia for a number of reasons, and largely because it could not be done in South Africa, as the South African government has declared jatropha an invasive plant. Omnia would continue to spend the necessary capital on research in this field on an ongoing basis.

Source: Engineering News

The Land Bank of the Philippines has set aside P4.3 billion (~60m €) in loans for the development of a 100-hectare tract of marginal land in Quezon, which will be planted to jatropha feedstock. In a statement, LandBank said the amount would be extended as credit assistance to qualified growers, such as cooperatives, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs and farmers’ organizations in the province.

Source: Business Inquirer

UK biofuels technology company D1 Oils is to carry out trials in Indonesia to test the performance of jatropha in ultisol soil types on the island of Sumatra. These acidic soils cannot generally be used for sedentary agriculture without the aid of lime and other fertilisers and are easily exhausted. The trials will be carried out in co-operation with University of Bengkulu (UNIB) in South West Sumatra.

Source: Biofuels News

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