Jatropha has great potential to save greenhouse gases

The threshold of 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for biofuels by the European Union is easily met by Jatropha. These are the findings of an independent report by sustainability consultants Partners for Innovation. The study commissioned by the Jatropha Alliance and Sun Biofuels demonstrates that even using very conservative assumptions on yields and other parameters, Sun Biofuels Mozambique is saving 39% of GHG compared to fossil fuels if the Jatropha biodiesel is produced in the UK. The now published GHG report also highlights the potential of Jatropha biodiesel to achieve a GHG saving of up to 73%.

In the context of a sustainability assessment on Jatropha biofuels in Mozambique the Jatropha Alliance commissioned Partners for Innovation to conduct an independent greenhouse gas life cycle calculation for Sun Biofuels Mozambique SA. The outcomes of these calculations have been independently reviewed by Robert Bailis, assistant professor at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Ignacio Pérez Domínguez from LEI Agricultural Economic Research in the Netherlands.

The amount of GHG savings achieved by Jatropha mainly depend on three factors: seed yield, oil yield and nitrogen fertilizer. A conservative base case scenario for locally produced Jatropha biodiesel assuming a seed yield of 3 tons of seeds per hectare, an oil yield of 0.24 tons of oil per ton of seed, and 44 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per ha per year already allows for 39% of GHG savings compared to fossil fuels. In case the biodiesel is used locally, this value goes up to 48%. Sun Biofuels Mozambique is targeting seed yield of 6t/ha/year, this raises the GHG savings to 65%. However the most influencing factor is nitrogen fertilizer. If Sun Biofuels Mozambique achieves to completely substitute nitrogen fertilizers by organic fertilizer (e.g. Jatropha seed cake) the GHG saving balance could go up to 73%.

The authors have also calculated the impact of land use change on GHG savings by using the default values from the European Commission. Sun Biofuels Mozambique cultivates perennial Jatropha on former annual cropland, thereby realizing significant GHG saving potential of 380%. This is due to the fact that trees are planted in place of idle land or perennial crops ‘fixing’ carbon in an additional CO2 sink.

The encouraging GHG savings of Jatropha make it an ideal source for biofuels for the aviation industry, who are pushing hard to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

For further information please see the original press release here

Business Matchmaking Compiles Results of Jatropha Biofuels Airline Tests

Los Angeles—Business Matchmaking, Inc. has compiled the results of multiple airline tests of oil from the little known non-edible plant Jatropha as a potential substitute for traditional jet fuel with impressive results.

The non-profit company specializes in matching small firms with government agencies and major corporations.

Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Continental, Brazil's TAM Airlines and most recently the Mexican carrier Interjet, in cooperation with European manufacturer Airbus, were hosts of successful tests and flights relying upon fuel from weed-like Jatropha which grows on land otherwise unusable for farming.

A March 31, 2011 comprehensive report by Yale's School of Environmental Studies, funded by Boeing, concluded that "Jatropha can deliver strong environmental and socioeconomic benefits."

The Yale Study used sustainability criteria developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels in evaluating actual farming conditions.

Mission NewEnergy, Limited, the largest producer of Jatropha by acreage planted, currently employs more than 140,000 formerly impoverished farmers in India now earning a living cultivating Jatropha without compromising food supply or food pricing.

The company is currently distributing product in Europe, and launching its US operations.

James Garton, president of Mission NewEnergy USA said, "We are particularly pleased to learn of repeated testing of Jatropha in aviation with positive results.

"With the unprecedented challenges facing the airlines as a result of the constant increase in the price of jet fuel, and the global need to accept sustainability as a key to environmental responsibility, the Jatropha solution is timely and efficient."

In addition to civilian aviation, there are studies underway by the military with regard to Jatropha oil.

Major General Wilbert Pearson (USAF-Ret), now Chairman of Mission NewEnergy's Advisory Board, concluded that "the military has a huge and continuing need for efficient and affordable fuel and Jatropha appears to meet those standards while also meeting environmental demands."

The United Nation's International Civil Aviation Organization has established the goal of reducing aviation-related carbon-dioxide emissions and the use of renewable fuels.

At one point, there was speculation that Ethanol might be appropriate for airplane use, but since it freezes at relatively low altitudes, it is deemed unacceptable for flight.

The Yale study projected greenhouse gas reductions of up to 60 percent from Jatropha-based fuel compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

For more information, visit http://www.businessmatchmaking.com/ and the biofuels journal

Bungalows at Carara National Eco Lodge

Bungalow designs for the Carara National Eco Lodge at NatureWalk are almost complete.

Carara National Eco Lodge will be a condo hotel and investors can own condos and bungalows within the hotel complex.

To read more click here

See some of the pre-launch designs below.

For more information on the Bungalows at Carara National Eco Lodge send an e mail to info@costaricainvest.ie