“Drop-In” Fuels
I have seen more and more written recently about “drop in” fuels - biofuels that can be used in existing systems that are currently driven by petroleum-based fuels. For example, experts have predicted that possibly within the next 2-3 years and certainly within the next decade, biofuels could be a significant factor in fueling the airline industry. As a Reuters article points out, one feedstock for such a biofuel is Jatropha. This plant, grown in poor African and Asian countries, is ”a poisonous plant that produces seeds that can be refined into biofuels, and is being touted as a good alternative fuel and a potentially powerful weapon against climate change.” Jatropha has appealing qualities, including: 1) a perennial plant, 2) can grow on marginal land with limited rainfall, and 3) does not compete with other food crops or encourage deforestation.
Perhaps most importantly, however, these next generation biofuels can be “dropped in” to current technology that would certainly save cost in the long term. For example, it has been estimated that it can cost upwards of hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a new airline jet engine. If current engines can continue to function on this next generation fuel, the airlines, Jatropha farmers, and the environment will all be winners.
April 8th, 2009 at 7:23 am
From from http://www.lodemessemaker.nl/jatropha , here’s another perspective:
“It is concluded that there is little knowledge on important issues such as production costs and feasibility compared to other crops. In general, Jatropha requires common inputs such as nutrients, water and farm management, thereby competing with food and other crops. Furthermore, Jatropha is not immune to pests and fungi. Hence, it is not the promising biofuel crop it is said to be.”
There is also an evaluation, breeding and propagation programme for jatropha (2006-2010) carried out by Wageningen University and Research centre, Plant Research International, the Netherlands. Wageningen is a major European agricultural-origins university with programmes are in the field of economy& society, health, life sciences & technology, nature & environment, animals & plants.
http://www.jatropha.wur.nl
“Jatropha is still a wild crop needing domestication and fundamental knowledge for genetic, agronomic, processing and environmental characters and factors, in order to become a reliable and economic crop for smallholder farmers.” As such, in April 2008, there was an international consultation on pro-poor Jatropha Development organized by the United Nations Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, IFAD and FAO.
Access background papers and access many presentations here: http://www.ifad.org/events/jatropha
Happy Jatropha reading!