Jatropha, Estancia Montana, Naturewalk 2

Aeromexico flies on biofuel

4 August 2011

Aeromexico is the latest airline to fly its planes on biofuel. Along with Boeing, the two companies powered a flight from Mexico City to Madrid using a General Electric motor that ran on bio-combustible fuel.

The flight, which took off at the beginning of August, had 250 passengers on board. The airline plans to make the flights more regular by implementing a programme that will see its Boeing 737-700 planes making commercial flights to San Jose in Costa Rica, as well as other destinations.

The Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transport, along with the Airports and Auxiliary Services were also involved in the launch of the biofuels’ flight. The jet fuel was made from a mixture of petroleum-based jet fuel and oil purchased from a jatropha curcas oilseed plant in Mexico.

To read the full story on Biofuels International click here

New Plantings at NatureWalk

Tim Alexander, Presdent of Naturewalk, announces new test planting at Naturewalk
July 7th, 2011

Joshua Fuks, Naturewalk's general manager and Alberto Quiros, our farm manager have done a great job of sourcing test plants for the Naturewalk bio garden, and are now getting them in the ground. Planted since the last time we visited Naturewalk are coffee plants, macauba palms for our bio-fuel lots and more Jatropha from seeds this time. Alberto, who was born on the property, remembers having wonderful coffee grown at Naturewalk so we will see how it performs.

Jatropha, a plant native to Central America, also grows wild on the Naturewalk 2 property and we expect great results from our test planting for Jatropha. For those not familiar with Jatropha it is a plant that starts producing Bio-Fuel after just 1 year and the product, if used immediately, can be put directly into your diesel car!

Our research suggests that it also does well when intercropped with Jatropha and will also provide a beautiful environment within the farm. We are all excited to start turning Naturewalk 2 into the agricultural garden paradise it is planned to be.


Tim Alexander
NATUREWALK
COSTA RICA

A Plant with a Bad Name

A very detailed report on Jatropha from Hardman and Co, (March 2011)

To download the report click here

7 Airlines commit to flying on Biofuels

20 June 2011

In the US, a group of seven airlines has signed letters of intent with Solena Fuels for a supply of 100% biomass-derived jet fuel to be produced in northern California.

The fuel will be produced at Solena's GreenSky California biomass-to-liquids (BtL) facility, located in northern California. At the plant, 550,000 tonnes of urban and agricultural waste will be converted into 16 million gallons a year of jet fuel by 2015. The facility will also produce 14 million gallon a year equivalents of other energy products.

'Today's announcement reinforces the ongoing steps that ATA member airlines are taking to stimulate competition in jet fuel production, contribute to the creation of green jobs, and promote energy security through economically viable alternatives that also demonstrate global and local environmental benefits,' says Nicholas Calio, the president and CEO of the industry trade organisation for the leading US airlines Air Transport Association of America (ATA).

'It is through the leadership and commitment of ATA member airlines and the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) that we are able to bring this groundbreaking alternative aviation fuels project in California to fruition,' he continues.

American Airlines and United Continental Holdings led the development of the agreement with Solena and were joined by five additional ATA member airlines – Alaska Airlines, FedEx, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and US Airways – and ATA associate member Air Canada in signing the letters of intent, as well as Frontier Airlines and Lufthansa German Airlines.

To read more coverage visit Biofuels International

Biofuel-powered jet flies across the Atlantic.

Honeywell shows off capabilities of its “green” jet fuel

By Polya Lesova, MarketWatch

PARIS (MarketWatch) — A business jet flew from New Jersey to Paris powered with a blend of “green” jet fuel and petroleum-based fuel, successfully completing the first biofuel transatlantic flight, Honeywell International Inc. said Saturday.

The flight highlights the growing importance of making aviation more environmentally friendly ahead of next week’s Paris Air Show, which will bring together key players from the aerospace and defense industry.

This year, the show — Monday through June 26 — will devote a specific area to companies working on developing alternative aviation fuels.

Europe's week ahead: Paris air show.The aerospace and defense industry will gather next week at Le Bourget airport for the Paris Air Show.MarketWatch’s Polya Lesova reports.

The Honeywell-operated Gulfstream G450 jet left Morristown, N.J., at 9 p.m. on Friday and landed at Le Bourget airport outside Paris about seven hours later, closely tracking the route of Charles Lindbergh’s historic first flight across the Atlantic.

Honeywell’s “green” jet fuel was derived from camelina, an oilseed crop that can grow on marginal lan, and its use on the flight saved around 5.5 metric tons of net carbon dioxide emissions compared to the same flight powered by petroleum-based fuel, Honeywell /quotes/zigman/234291/quotes/nls/hon HON -0.89% said.

”This first biofuel trip across the Atlantic, along with more than a dozen other commercial and military test flights conducted to date, demonstrates that Honeywell Green Jet Fuel more than meets the demanding requirements for air travel,” said Jim Rekoske, vice president and general manager of renewable energy and chemicals for Honeywell’s UOP, in a statement.

“Now that the initial ASTM International approval is in place, we are one step closer to commercial use that will help the aviation community reduce its carbon footprint and dependence on crude,” he said.

Honeywell said it has produced more than 700,000 gallons of “green” jet fuel from camelina, jatropha, algae and other sources for use in commercial and military testing. In the 16 biofuel flights conducted to date, the fuel has met all specifications for flight on military and commercial platforms without any modification to the aircraft or engines, according to the company.

Interest in renewable sources of fuel has been growing in the aviation industry. For example, at last year’s Farnborough Airshow in the U.K., EADS unit Airbus showed off an aircraft powered by algae juice. Read more about the efforts of Airbus in this area.

To read the full article visit MarketWatch 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

Brazilian airline flies on biofuel

24 November 2010

On 22 November an Airbus A320 was flown off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Latin America, fuelled by a 50:50 blend of biofuel and conventional aviation fuel.

The 45-minute flight, which was conducted by Brazil’s largest airline TAM, Airbus and engine manufacturer CFM International, used biodiesel derived from jatropha seeds in what has been named the first experimental flight in South America using aviation fuel.

Since February 2008 a total of six flights have been successfully flown using a biofuel blend. Air New Zealand, Continental, Japan Airlines, KLM and Virgin Atlantic have all tested aviation biofuel from a variety of feedstocks including jatropha, coconut oil, algae and camelina seed oil.

According to the president of TAM Libano Barroso, the airline is looking to build ‘a Brazilian platform for sustainable aviation bio-kerosene.’

Barroso defended the non-edible crop, claiming that food crop production is not threatened by it as it ‘can be planted along pastures and food crops.’ The president claimed that studies have shown jatropha-based biofuels to emit between 65 and 80% less carbon than traditional aviation kerosene.

To read the full story on the Biofuels International website click here

Lufthansa unveils plan to test biofuels on regular domestic flights

30 November 2010 Deutsche Welle

German airline Lufthansa plans to begin testing the use of biofuels on one of its popular domestic flight routes from April next year. The carrier hopes to make inroads into cutting the size of its carbon footprint.

Germany's national air carrier Lufthansa said on Monday it would start test the use of biofuel to supplement kerosene on one of its major domestic flights.

The airline plans to use the dual fuel sources on its four-times-daily service between Hamburg and Frankfurt from April 2011, in a project aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

"Through the test on the route between Hamburg and Frankfurt, the effect of the biofuel on the maintenance and lifespan of the engines can be investigated," said Manfred Aigner, head of the German Aerospace Center's combustion technology institute.

A quarter of the fuel used by the Airbus 321 airplanes operating on the route will be composed of a synthetic mixture made from 50 percent vegetable oil.

Up to four times more costly than kerosene

Lufthansa plans to spend 6.6 million euros (8.7 million dollars) on the project, with the biofuel costing three to four times more than kerosene.

Project leader Joachim Buse told a press conference that the use of biofuel would mean a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 1,500 metric tons over the six-month test period.

While air Japan and Air New Zealand have already tested biofuels in their airplanes, Lufthansa said it would be the first carrier to use them on a regular basis.

The airline said it hoped that biofuels could make up between five and ten percent of its fuel consumption by 2020.

To read the full detailed story click here

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Costa Rica Investments in Bio-fuel, and Sustainable Agro Developments

The Costa Rica News 19th October 2010

TRCN staff

Central America and especially Costa Rica has seen a large surge in Biofuel initiative. There new Biofuel cooperative projects, intercropping (with food and oil bearing plants) development, including a new investment wave called Multi Purpose Real Estate, UBA (United Biofuels of America.

Investing in bio-fuel is profitable in the short term and long term and helps reduce dependency on unstable foreign sources.

Here in Costa Rica the governmental bodies have full buy-in to renewable energy and sustainable agro developments.

Costa Rica is attempting to produce ethanol and biodiesel on a large enough scale to eventually reduce or even replace petroleum fuel. The state oil company, Recope, is constructing a large processing plant, the government is about to release a plan for the industry’s development, and the Institute for Agrarian Development, is engaged in research projects for certain products to convert to biofuels.

At present, ethanol is produced from sugar cane and to a lesser extent from yuca (cassava), a root crop. There is some production of bio-diesel from African Palm oil. Research is ongoing with respect to very promising oil seed crops for biodiesel, higuerilla and jatropha.

There is ample opportunity for investments in these crops to supply a local and international market. Petroleum prices are expected to remain at high levels. Biofuels reduce vehicle emissions when mixed with or replace gasoline or diesel. However, when biofuels are produced on a large scale there are also large scale environmental and social consequences, especially when the source of ethanol is corn or soybeans for biodiesel or when growing crops that displace food crops or convert forests to crop lands.

These adverse environmental and social consequences are mitigated when biofuel crops are grown on land that had been previously deforested and converted to cattle pasture. In Northern Costa Rica there are vast expanses of unproductive cattle pasture, much of it mechanizable and not requiring irrigation. This is a good opportunity to promote the conversion of cattle lands to socially useful and productive crops. This is already occurring with the proliferation of pineapple, root crop, and palmito plantings. However, it makes good sense to plant many more food crops there, such as rice, beans, and animal feed, while still leaving space for biofuel crop cultivation.

Presently, there is a project that involves an effort to plant thousands of hectares of jatropha in Costa Rican and other countries. The oil from the seed is converted to diesel and no modification of diesel motors is required. Yield is high, production costs for the hardy plant are low, and demand is potentially infinite, including for aviation fuel. The company engaged in the project invites equity participation, as well as offering technical assistance and production contracts to growers.

An excellent investment for animal feed is in pejibaye, a palm nut fruit that is very high in protein and other nutrients. Research on pejibaye has demonstrated that it is superior to corn or other grains for animal feed, especially for poultry. The fruit is also very nutritious for human consumption, including for baby food. Pejibaye palm is very productive, much higher yield than grains, and has a low cost of production. Costa Rica spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually in importing grains for animal feed and development of this high yield crop would be an excellent import-substitution measure and help reduce the nation’s chronic balance of payment deficits. The export market for prepared chicken feed would also be excellent. To accomplish this on a large enough scale to make a difference will require the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute for Agrarian Development, and other government planning institutions.

With recent increases in food prices Costa Rican officials and the general public has become concerned about food sovereignty, that is the cost and availability of food imports. While Costa Rica is largely self-sufficient in fruits and vegetable, dairy products, and meat and fish, this is far from the case with the basic staples of the population’s diet, rice and beans. Domestic production accounts for less than half national consumption of these staples. Corn and other grains are almost entirely imported. There is ample land for mechanized cultivation of these crops, especially in the Northern Zone.

To read the full story go to The Costa Rica News 19th October 2010

Costa Rica takes a leading role in the development of clean energy biofuels

The Costa Rica Seed Company has achieved great success in 2008 and has established itself as Jatropha Biofuel leaders in North and Central America. The 80 hectare R &D Jatropha Planatation has captured world wide attention, recognized as one of if not the most advanced plantation in the Americas.

They have also identified one of the most potent strain of Jatropha seed known, with 42% oil content.

Goldman Sachs recently cited Jatropha curcas as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. Many alternative Bio Diesel fuels have been shown to improve exhaust emissions than traditional Diesel fuel.

Jatropha Bio diesel holds promise as fuel alternatives in diesel engine development continues. Research has shown that jatropha bio diesel properties are of the highest grade. Improves engine performance, is very similar to diesel fossil fuel.

Bio Diesel is non toxic, bio degradable and a renewable fuel. Bio diesel performs better than Petroleum diesel, reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons and air toxins. Mutagencity studies show that bio diesel dramatically reduces potential risk of cancer and birth defects. Biodiesel is about 5% to 8% less energy dense than petroleum diesel, but has greater lubrication properties and higher combustion rate which is leading overall to a fuel efficiency of approximately 2% higher than petroleum diesel.

All very good news for Bio Diesel but critics have taken issue with biofuels, which they say could drive expanded deforestation, or would compete with food commodities, raising food prices across the board — particularly for poor families and poor communities.

Supporters of bio-fuels say that they are committed to using sustainable biofuels that do not threaten food supplies for land or water as part of their alternative fuel tests.

Some in the aviation industry say they could one day be flying the biggest jets across the planet without contributing to climate change — using biofuels. A major part of the industry’s future carbon emissions reduction plans rely on the ability for aircraft to shift towards biofuels.

Air New Zealand has recently carried out a test flight using a blend of jatropha fuel and jet fuel.

The test was a success and the engine powered by the fuel mix performed well.

Using jatropha-based fuel still emits carbon dioxide, but the gas is typically recycled in the growing of the feedstock, so there is ostensibly no additional CO2 added to the atmosphere.

One of the vast advantages of biodiesel is the fact that it can be used in existing diesel engines without modification and can be blended in at any ratio with petroleum diesel.